Take (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

verb (used with object), took, tak·en, tak·ing.

to get into one's hold or possession by voluntary action: to take a cigarette out of a box;to take a pen and begin to write.
to hold, grasp, or grip: to take a book in one's hand;to take a child by the hand.
to get into one's hands, possession, control, etc., by force or artifice: to take a bone from a snarling dog.
to seize or capture: to take an enemy town;to take a prisoner.
to catch or get (fish, game, etc.), especially by killing: to take a dozen trout on a good afternoon.
to pick from a number; select: Take whichever you wish.
to receive and accept willingly (something given or offered): to take a compliment with a smile;to take a bribe.
to receive or be the recipient of (something bestowed, administered, etc.): to take first prize.
to accept and act upon or comply with: to take advice;to take a dare.
to receive or accept (a person) into some relation: to take someone in marriage;to take new members once a year.
to receive, react, or respond to in a specified manner: Although she kept calm, she took his death hard.
to form in the mind; make: The company took the decision to shut down.
to receive as a payment or charge: He refused to take any money for the use of his car.
to gain for use by payment, lease, etc.: to take a box at the opera;to take a beach house for a month.
to secure regularly or periodically by payment: to take a magazine.
to get or obtain from a source; derive: The book takes its title from Dante.
to extract or quote: He took whole passages straight from Dickens.
to obtain or exact as compensation for some wrong: to take revenge.
to receive into the body or system, as by swallowing or inhaling: to take a pill;to take a breath of fresh air.
to have for one's benefit or use: to take a meal;to take a nap;to take a bath.
to use as a flavoring agent in a food or beverage: to take sugar in one's coffee.
to be subjected to; undergo: to take a heat treatment.
to endure or submit to with equanimity or without an appreciable weakening of one's resistance: to take a joke;unable to take punishment.
to enter into the enjoyment of (recreation, a holiday, etc.): to take a vacation.
to carry off without permission: to take something that belongs to another.
to remove: to take the pins out of one's hair.
to remove by death: The flood took many families.
to end (a life): She took her own life.
to subtract or deduct: If you take 2 from 5, that leaves 3.
to carry with one: Take your lunch with you. Are you taking an umbrella?
to convey in a means of transportation: We took them for a ride in the country.
(of a vehicle) to convey or transport: Will this bus take me across town?
(of a road, path, etc.) to serve as a means of conducting to or through some place or region: Fifth Avenue took us through the center of town.These stairs will take you up to the attic.
to bring about a change in the state or condition of: Her ambition and perseverance took her quickly to the top of her field.
to conduct or escort: to take someone out for dinner.
to set about or succeed in getting over, through, or around (some obstacle); clear; negotiate: The horse took the hedge easily.He took the corner at top speed.
to come upon suddenly; catch: to take someone by surprise.
to get or contract; catch: He took cold over the weekend. I took a chill.
to attack or affect, as with a disease: suddenly taken with a fit of coughing.
to be capable of attaining as a result of some action or treatment: Most leathers take a high polish.
to absorb or become impregnated with; be susceptible to: Waxed paper will not take ink.This cloth takes dye.
to attract and hold: The red sweater took his eye.The urgent voice took her attention.
to captivate or charm: The kitten took my fancy.
to require: It takes courage to do that.The climb took all our strength.
to employ for some specified or implied purpose: to take measures to curb drugs.
to use as a means of transportation: to take a bus to the ferry.
to get on or board (a means of transportation) at a given time or in a given place: She takes the train at Scarsdale.
to proceed to occupy: to take a seat.
to occupy; fill (time, space, etc.): His hobby takes most of his spare time.The machine takes a lot of room.
to use up; consume: This car takes a great deal of oil.He took ten minutes to solve the problem.
to avail oneself of: He took the opportunity to leave.She took the time to finish it properly.
to do, perform, execute, etc.: to take a walk.
to go into or enter: Take the next road to the left.
to adopt and enter upon (a way, course, etc.): to take the path of least resistance.
to act or perform: to take the part of the hero.
to make (a reproduction, picture, or photograph): I want to take a selfie in front of the waterfall.
to make a picture, especially a photograph, of: The photographer took us sitting down.
to write down: to take a letter in shorthand;to take notes at a lecture.
to apply oneself to; study: to take ballet;She took four courses in her freshman year.
to deal with; treat: to take things in their proper order.
to proceed to handle in some manner: to take a matter under consideration.
to assume or undertake (a function, duty, job, etc.): The mayor took office last month.
to assume or adopt (a symbol, badge, or the like) as a token of office: to take the veil;to take the throne.
to assume the obligation of; be bound by: to take an oath.
to assume or adopt as one's own: to take someone's part in an argument;He took the side of the speaker.
to assume or appropriate as if by right: to take credit for someone else's work.
to accept the burden of: She took the blame for his failure.
to determine by inquiry, examination, measurement, scientific observation, etc.: to take someone's pulse;to take a census.
to make or carry out for purposes of yielding a determination: to take someone's measurements;to take a seismographic reading.
to begin to have; experience (a certain feeling or state of mind): to take pride in one's appearance.
to form and hold in the mind: to take a gloomy view.
to grasp or apprehend mentally; understand; comprehend: Do you take my meaning, sir?
to understand in a specified way: You shouldn't take the remark as an insult.
to grasp the meaning of (a person): if we take him correctly.
to accept the statements of: to take him at his word.
to assume as a fact: I take it that you will be there.
to regard or consider: They were taken to be wealthy.
to capture or win (a piece, trick, etc.) in a game.
to cheat, swindle, or victimize: They really take people in that shop.The museum got taken on that painting.
to win or obtain money from: He took me for $10 in the poker game.
(of a man) to have sexual intercourse with.
to be used with (a certain form, accent, case, mood, etc.): a verb that always takes an object.
to acquire property, as on the happening of an event: They take a fortune under the will.
(of a batter) to allow (a pitch) to go by without swinging at it: He took a third strike.

verb (used without object), took, tak·en, tak·ing.

to catch or engage, as a mechanical device: She turned the key and heard a click as the catch took.
to strike root or begin to grow, as a plant.
to adhere, as ink, dye, or color.
(of a person or thing) to win favor or acceptance: a new TV show that took with the public.
to have the intended result or effect, as a medicine, inoculation, etc.: The vaccination took.
to enter into possession, as of an estate.
to detract (usually followed by from).
to apply or devote oneself: He took to his studies.
to make one's way; proceed; go: to take across the meadow.
to fall or become: She took sick and had to go home.
to admit of being photographed in a particular manner: a model who takes exceptionally well.
to admit of being moved or separated: This crib takes apart for easy storage.

noun

the act of taking.
something that is taken.
the quantity of fish, game, etc., taken at one time.
an opinion or assessment: What's your take on the candidate?
an approach; treatment: a new take on an old idea.
money taken in, especially profits.
Movies.

a scene, or a portion of a scene, photographed without any interruption or break.
an instance of such continuous operation of the camera.

a visual and mental response to something typically manifested in a stare expressing total absorption or wonderment: She did a slow take on being asked by reporters the same question for the third time.
a recording of a musical performance.
a successful inoculation.
(formerly) a portion of copy assigned to a Linotype operator or compositor, usually part of a story or article.

Verb Phrases

take after,

to resemble (another person, as a parent) physically, temperamentally, etc.: The baby took after his mother.
to follow; chase: The detective took after the burglars.

take back,

to regain possession of: to take back one's lawn mower.
to return, as for exchange: It was defective, so I took it back to the store.
to allow to return; resume a relationship with: She said she would never take him back again.
to cause to remember: It takes one back to the old days.
to retract: to take back a statement.

take down,

to move from a higher to a lower level or place.
to pull apart or take apart; dismantle; disassemble.
to write down; record.
to diminish the pride or arrogance of; humble: to take someone down a notch or two.

take for,

to assume to be: I took it for the truth.
to assume falsely to be; mistake for: to be taken for a foreigner.

take in,

to permit to enter; admit.
to alter (an article of clothing) so as to make smaller.
to provide lodging for.
to include; encompass.
to grasp the meaning of; comprehend.
to deceive; trick; cheat.
to observe; notice.
to visit or attend: to take in a show.
to furl (a sail).
to receive as proceeds, as from business activity.
to subscribe to: to take in a magazine.

take off,

to remove: Take off your coat.
to lead away: The child was taken off by kidnappers.
to depart; leave: They took off yesterday for California.
to leave the ground, as an airplane.
to move onward or forward with a sudden or intense burst of speed: The police car took off after the drunken driver.
to withdraw or remove from: She was taken off the night shift.
to remove by death; kill: Millions were taken off by the Black Plague.
to make a likeness or copy of; reproduce.
to subtract, as a discount; deduct: Shop early and we'll take off 20 percent.
to imitate; mimic; burlesque.
to achieve sudden, marked growth, success, etc.: Sales took off just before Christmas.The actor's career took off after his role in that movie.

take on,

to hire; employ.
to undertake; assume: to take on new responsibilities.
to acquire: The situation begins to take on a new light.
to accept as a challenge; contend against: to take on a bully.
to show great emotion; become excited: There's no need to take on so.

take out,

to withdraw; remove: to take out a handkerchief.
to procure by application: to take out an insurance policy.
to carry out for use or consumption elsewhere: to take a book out of the library;to get food to take out.
to escort; invite: He takes out my sister now and then.
to set out; start: They took out for the nearest beach.
to kill; destroy.

to assume management or possession of or responsibility for: The first officer took over the ship when the captain suffered a heart attack.
take to,

to devote or apply oneself to; become habituated to: to take to drink.
to respond favorably to; begin to like: They took to each other at once.
to go to: to take to one's bed.
to have recourse to; resort to: She took to getting up at five to go jogging before work.

take up,

to occupy oneself with the study or practice of: She took up painting in her spare time.
to lift or pick up: He took up the fallen leaves with a rake.
to occupy; cover: A grand piano would take up half of our living room.
to consume; use up; absorb: Traveling to her job takes up a great deal of time.
to begin to advocate or support; sponsor: He has taken up another struggling artist.
to continue; resume: We took up where we had left off.
to reply to in order to reprove:The author takes up his critics in the preface of his latest book.
to assume: He took up the duties of the presidency.
to absorb: Use a sponge to take up the spilled milk.
to make shorter, as by hemming: to take up the sleeves an inch.
to make tighter, as by winding in: With a few quick turns of the reel, I took up the slack in my fishing line.
to deal with in discussion: to take up the issue of mass transit.
to adopt seriously: to take up the idea of seeking public office.
to accept, as an offer or challenge.
to buy as much as is offered: The sale was taken up in a matter of days.
to arrest.
to clear by paying off, as a loan.

to become friendly with; keep company with: He took up with a bad crowd.

Idioms

on the take, Slang.

accepting bribes.
in search of personal profit at the expense of others.

grant (def. 10).
take it,

to accept or believe something; aquiesce: I'll take it on your say-so.
to be able to resist or endure hardship, abuse, etc.
to understand: I take it that you're not interested.

to accept as payment for services or as an equivalent of monetary compensation: He takes it out in goods instead of cash.
take it out of,

to exhaust; enervate: Every year the winter takes it out of me.
to exact payment from; penalize: They took it out of your pay.

to cause (someone else) to suffer for one's own misfortune or dissatisfaction: Just because you're angry with him you don't have to take it out on me!
to ask for or gather donations, usually of money, from a number of people.
to assume as a responsibility or obligation: She has taken it upon herself to support the family.

verb takes, taking, took or taken (mainly tr)

to gain possession of (something) by force or effort
to appropriate or steal
to receive or accept into a relationship with oneself
to pay for or buy
to rent or lease
to receive or obtain by regular payment
to obtain by competing for; win
to obtain or derive from a source
to assume the obligations of
to endure, esp with fortitude
to adopt as a symbol of duty, obligation, etc
to receive or react to in a specified way
to adopt as one's own
to receive and make use of
to receive into the body, as by eating, inhaling, etc
to eat, drink, etc, esp habitually
to have or be engaged in for one's benefit or use
to work at or study
to make, do, or perform (an action)
to make use of
to put into effect; adopt
to make a photograph of or admit of being photographed
to act or perform
to write down or copy
to experience or feel
to consider, believe, or regard
to consider or accept as valid
to hold or maintain in the mind
to deal or contend with
to use as a particular case
to diminish or detract
to confront successfully
to have or produce the intended effect; succeed
(of seeds, plants, etc) to start growing successfully
to aim or direct
to deal a blow to in a specified place
to have sexual intercourse with
to carry off or remove from a place
to carry along or have in one's possession
to convey or transport
to use as a means of transport
to conduct or lead
to escort or accompany
to bring or deliver to a state, position, etc
to go to look for; seek
to ascertain or determine by measuring, computing, etc
(of a mechanism) to catch or engage (a part)
to put an end to; destroy
to come upon unexpectedly; discover
to contract
to affect or attack
to become suddenly or be rendered (ill)
to absorb or become absorbed by something
to charm or captivate
to be or become popular; win favour
to require or need
to subtract or deduct
to hold or contain
to quote or copy
to proceed to occupy
to use or employ
to win or capture (a trick, counter, piece, etc)
to catch as prey or catch prey
to cheat, deceive, or victimize
to be annoyed or offended by
take at one's word See word (def. 17)
to pay attention; be heedful
to assume responsibility for; look after
to behave in a risky manner
to take a break of five minutes
to become encouraged
take it

to assume; believe
to stand up to or endure criticism, abuse, harsh treatment, etc

to use as much time as is needed; not rush
to happen or occur
take someone's name in vain

to use a name, esp of God, disrespectfully or irreverently
to say (someone's) name

to assume the right to do or responsibility for (something)

noun

the act of taking
the number of quarry killed or captured on one occasion
the amount of anything taken, esp money
films music

one of a series of recordings from which the best will be selected for release
the process of taking one such recording
a scene or part of a scene photographed without interruption

informal

any objective indication of a successful vaccination, such as a local skin reaction
a successful skin graft

a part of an article, story, etc, given to a compositor or keyboard operator for setting in type
a try or attempt
a version or interpretation

noun

a topic or cause

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