plectrum

This term is the technical and formal designation for what is commonly referred to as a guitar pick. While pick is the dominant term in casual conversation and modern music industry jargon, plectrum is preferred in academic musicology, classical instrument descriptions, and formal instructional manuals.

Because it refers to a discrete physical object, it follows standard English countability rules. It is used to describe the specific tool used for striking strings, regardless of the material, though the choice of material often dictates the timbre of the sound produced.