take
take
(tāk) verb
took (
tk), taken (tāʹkən), taking, takes
verb
, transitive
1.
To get into one's possession by force, skill, or artifice, especially: a. To capture physically; seize: take an enemy fortress. b. To seize with authority; confiscate. c. To kill, snare, or trap (fish or game, for example). d. Sports & Games. To acquire in a game or competition; win: took the crown in horseracing. e. Sports & Games. To defeat: Our team took the visitors three to one. f. Sports. To catch (a ball in play), especially in baseball: The player took it on the fly. g. Baseball. To refrain from swinging at (a pitched ball).
2.
To grasp with the hands; grip: Take your partner's hand.
3.
To be affected with; come down with; contract: The child has taken the flu.
4.
To encounter or catch in a particular situation; come upon; discover: Your actions took me by surprise.
5.
To deal a blow to; strike or hit: The boxer took his opponent a sharp jab to the ribs.
6.
To affect favorably or winsomely; charm or captivate: She was taken by the puppy.
7.
a. To put (food or drink, for example) into the body; eat or drink: took a little soup for dinner. b. To draw in; inhale: took a deep breath.
8. To expose one's body to (healthful or pleasurable treatment, for example): take the sun; take the waters at a spa.
9. To bring or receive into a particular relation, association, or other connection: take a new partner into the firm; take a company national.
10. To engage in sex with.
11. To accept and place under one's care or keeping.
12. To appropriate for one's own or another's use or benefit; obtain by purchase; secure or buy: We always take season tickets.
13. To assume for oneself: take all the credit. a. To charge or oblige oneself with the fulfillment of (a task or duty, for example); commit oneself to: She took the position of chair of the committee. b. To pledge one's obedience to; impose (a vow or promise) upon oneself. c. To subject oneself to: We took extra time to do the job properly. d. To accept or adopt for one's own. e. To put forth or adopt as a point of argument, defense, or discussion. f. To require or have as a fitting or proper accompaniment: Intransitive verbs take no direct object.
14. To pick out; select or choose: take any card. a. To choose for one's own use; avail oneself of the use of: We took a rented car. b. To use (something) as when in operation: This camera takes 35mm film. c. To use (something) as a means of conveyance or transportation: take a train to Pittsburgh. d. To use (something) as a means of safety or refuge: take shelter from the storm. e. To choose and then adopt (a particular route or direction) while on foot or while operating a vehicle: Take a right at the next corner. The driver downshifted to take the corner.
15. To assume occupancy of: take a seat.
16. To require (something) as a basic necessity: It takes money to live in that town.
17. To obtain from a source; derive or draw: The book takes its title from the Bible.
18. To obtain, as through measurement or a specified procedure: took the patient's temperature.
19. To put down in shorthand or cursive writing: take a letter.
20. To put down an image, a likeness, or a representation of by or as by drawing, painting, or photography: took a picture of us.
21. a. To accept (something owed, offered, or given) either reluctantly or willingly: take criticism. b. To submit to (something inflicted); endure: didn't take his punishment very well. c. To withstand: The dam took the heavy flood waters.
22. a. To accept or believe (something put forth) as true: I'll take your word. b. To follow (advice, a suggestion, or a lead, for example). c. To accept, handle, or deal with in a particular way: He takes things in stride. d. To consider in a particular relation or from a particular viewpoint: take the bitter with the sweet.
23. To make or perform: Many crucial decisions were taken as the path of the hurricane was plotted.
24. a. To allow to come in; give access or admission to; admit: The boat took a lot of water but remained afloat. b. To provide room for; accommodate: We can't take more than 100 guests. c. To become saturated or impregnated with (dye, for example).
25. a. To understand or interpret: May I take your smile as an indication of approval? b. To consider; assume: Take the matter as settled. c. To consider to be equal to; reckon: We take their number at 1,000. d. To perceive or feel; experience: I take pleasure in informing you that you have won the prize.
26. To carry, convey, lead, or cause to go along to another place: Don't forget to take your umbrella. This bus takes you to New York. See Usage Note at bring.
27. To remove from a place: take the dishes from the sink.
28. To secure by removing: The dentist took two molars.
29. To cause to die; kill or destroy: The blight took these tomatoes.
30. To subtract: take 15 from 30.
31. a. To commit and apply oneself to the study of: take art lessons; take Spanish. b. To study for with success: took a degree in law.
32. Informal. To swindle, defraud, or cheat: You've really been taken.
verb
, intransitive
1.
To acquire possession.
2.
To engage or mesh; catch, as gears or other mechanical parts.
3.
To start growing; root or germinate: Have the seeds taken?
4.
To have the intended effect; operate or work: The transfusion apparently took.
5.
To gain popularity or favor: The television series, which didn't take, was later canceled.
6.
To become: He took sick.
noun
1.
a. The act or process of taking. b. That which is taken.
2. a. A quantity collected at one time, especially the amount of profit or receipts taken on a business arrangement or venture. b. The number of fish, game birds, or other animals killed or captured at one time.
3. Sports. The amount of money collected as admission to a sporting event; the gate.
4. The uninterrupted running of a movie or television camera or a set of recording equipment in filming a movie or television program or cutting a record.
5. a. A scene filmed or televised without interrupting the run of the camera. b. A recording made in a single session.
6. a. A physical reaction, such as a rash, indicating a successful vaccination. b. A successful graft.
7. Slang. An attempt or a try: He got the answer on the third take.
phrasal verb.
take after
1.
To follow as an example.
2.
To resemble in appearance, temperament, or character.
take apart
1.
To divide into parts after disassembling.
2.
To dissect or analyze (a theory, for example), usually in an effort to discover hidden or innate flaws or weaknesses.
3.
Slang. To beat up; thrash.
take back
To retract (something stated or written). take down
1.
To bring to a lower position from a higher one.
2.
To take apart; dismantle: take down the Christmas tree.
3.
To lower the arrogance or the self-esteem of (a person): really took him down during the debate.
4.
To put down in writing.
take for
1.
To regard as: Do you take me for a fool?
2.
To consider mistakenly: Don't take silence for approval.
take in
1.
To grant admittance to; receive as a guest or an employee.
2.
To reduce in size; make smaller or shorter: took in the waist on the pair of pants.
3.
To include or constitute.
4.
To understand: couldn't take in the meaning of the word.
5.
To deceive or swindle: was taken in by a confidence artist.
6.
To look at thoroughly; view: took in the sights.
7.
To accept (work) to be done in one's house for pay: took in typing.
8.
To convey (a prisoner) to a police station.
take off
1.
To remove, as clothing: take one's coat off; take off one's galoshes.
2.
To release: took the brake off.
3.
To deduct as a discount: took 20 percent off.
4.
To carry off or away.
5.
Slang. a. To go off; leave: took off in a hurry. b. To achieve wide use or popularity: a new movie that really took off.
6. To rise in flight: The plane took off on time.
7. To discontinue: took off the commuter special.
8. To withhold service due, as from one's work: I'm taking off three days during May.
9. Slang. a. To go off; leave: took off in a hurry. b. To achieve wide use or popularity: a new movie that really took off.
take on
1.
To undertake or begin to handle: took on extra responsibilities.
2.
To hire; engage: took on more workers during the harvest.
3.
To oppose in competition: a wrestler who took on all comers.
4.
Informal. To display violent or passionate emotion: Don't take on so!
5. To acquire (an appearance, for example) as or as if one's own: Over the years he has taken on the look of a banker.
take out
1.
To extract; remove: took the splinter out.
2.
To secure (a license, for example) by application to an authority.
3.
Informal. To escort, as a date.
4. To give vent to: Don't take your frustration out in such an aggressive manner.
5. To obtain as an equivalent in a different form: took out the money owed in services.
6. Informal. To begin a course; set out: The police took out after the thieves.
7. Slang. a. To kill; murder: Two snipers took out an enemy platoon. b. To search for and destroy in an armed attack or other such encounter: Combat pilots, flying low to avoid radar, took out the guerrilla leader's bunker in a single mission.
8. Slang. a. To kill; murder: Two snipers took out an enemy platoon. b. To search for and destroy in an armed attack or other such encounter: Combat pilots, flying low to avoid radar, took out the guerrilla leader's bunker in a single mission.
take over
To assume the control or management of. take to
1.
To have recourse to; go to, as for safety: took to the woods.
2.
To develop as a habit or a steady practice: take to drink.
3.
To become fond of or attached to: "Two keen minds that they are, they took to each other" (Jack Kerouac).
take up
1.
To raise; lift.
2.
To reduce in size; shorten or tighten: take up a gown.
3.
To pay off an (outstanding debt, mortgage, or note).
4.
To accept (an option, a bet, or a challenge) as offered.
5.
To begin again; resume: Let's take up where we left off.
6.
To use up, consume, or occupy: The extra duties took up most of my time.
7.
To develop an interest in or devotion to: take up mountain climbing.
8.
To deal with: Let's take up each problem one at a time.
9.
To assume: took up a friendly attitude.
10.
To absorb or adsorb: crops taking up nutrients.
11.
To enter into (a profession or business): took up engineering.
idiom.
on the take Informal
Taking or seeking to take bribes or illegal income: "There were policemen on the take" (Scott Turow).
take a bath Informal
To experience serious financial loss: "Small investors who latched on to hot new issues took a bath in Wall Street" (Paul A. Samuelson).
take account of
To take into consideration.
take away from
To detract: Her stringy hair takes away from her lovely face.
take care
To be careful: Take care or you will slip on the ice.
take care of
To assume responsibility for the maintenance, support, or treatment of.
take charge
To assume control or command.
take effect
1.
To become operative, as under law or regulation: The curfew takes effect at midnight.
2.
To produce the desired reaction: The antibiotics at last began to take effect.
take exception
To express opposition by argument; object to: took exception to the prosecutor's line of questioning.
take five or take ten Slang
To take a short rest or break, as of five or ten minutes.
take for granted
1.
To consider as true, real, or forthcoming; anticipate correctly.
2.
To underestimate the value of: a publisher who took the editors for granted.
take heart
To be confident or courageous.
take hold
1.
To seize, as by grasping.
2.
To become established: The newly planted vines quickly took hold.
take it
1.
To understand; assume: As I take it, they won't accept the proposal.
2.
Informal. To endure abuse, criticism, or other harsh treatment: If you can dish it out, you've got to learn to take it.
take it on the chin
Slang
To endure punishment, suffering, or defeat.
take it or leave it
To accept or reject unconditionally.
take it out on Informal
To abuse (someone) in venting one's own anger.
take kindly to
1.
To be receptive to: take kindly to constructive criticism.
2.
To be naturally attracted or fitted to; thrive on.
take lying down
Informal
To submit to harsh treatment with no resistance: refused to take the snub lying down.
take notice of
To pay attention to.
take (one's) breath away
To put into a state of awe or shock.
take (one's) time
To act slowly or at one's leisure.
take place
To happen; occur.
take root
1.
To become established or fixed.
2.
To become rooted.
take shape
To take on a distinctive form.
take sick
Chiefly Southern U.S.. To become ill.
take sides
To associate with and support a particular faction, group, cause, or person.
take stock
1.
To take an inventory.
2.
To make an estimate or appraisal, as of resources or of oneself.
take stock in
To trust, believe in, or attach importance to.
take the bench Law
To assume a judicial position.
take the cake
1.
To be the most outrageous or disappointing.
2.
To win the prize; be outstanding.
take the count
1.
To be defeated.
2.
Sports. To be counted out in boxing.
take the fall
or take the hit Slang
To incur blame or censure, either willingly or unwillingly: a senior official who took the fall for the failed intelligence operation.
take the floor
To rise to deliver a formal speech, as to an assembly.
take the heat Slang
To incur and endure heavy censure or criticism: had a reputation for being able to take the heat in a crisis.
take to the cleaners Slang
1.
To rob or swindle.
2.
To take all the money or possessions of, as in a divorce action.
3.
To subject to withering criticism.
take up for
To support (a person or group, for example) in an argument.
take up the cudgels
To join in a dispute, especially in defense of a participant.
take up with Informal
To begin to associate with; consort with: took up with a fast crowd.
[Middle English taken, from Old English tacan, from Old Norse taka.]
tak
ʹable adjective