picnic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a day devoted to an outdoor social gathering
    field day; outing.
  2. noun any undertaking that is easy to do
    walkover; duck soup; piece of cake; breeze; child's play; cinch; snap; pushover.
    • marketing this product will be no picnic
  3. noun any informal meal eaten outside or on an excursion
  4. verb eat alfresco, in the open air
    • We picnicked near the lake on this gorgeous Sunday

WordNet

Pic"nic noun
Etymology
Cf. F. piquenique. See Pick, v., and cf. Knickknack.
Definitions
  1. Formerly, an entertainment at which each person contributed some dish to a common table; now, an excursion or pleasure party in which the members partake of a collation or repast (usually in the open air, and from food carried by themselves).
Pic"nic intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Picnicked ; present participle & verbal noun Picnicking
Definitions
  1. To go on a picnic, or pleasure excursion; to eat in public fashion.

Webster 1913