take
vb , takes, taking, took, taken mainly tr
1 also intr to gain possession of (something) by force or effort
2 to appropriate or steal
to take other people's belongings
3 to receive or accept into a relationship with oneself
to take a wife
5 to rent or lease
to take a flat in town
6 to receive or obtain by regular payment
we take a newspaper every day
7 to obtain by competing for; win
to take first prize
8 to obtain or derive from a source
he took his good manners from his older brother
9 to assume the obligations of
to take office
10 to endure, esp. with fortitude
to take punishment
11 to adopt as a symbol of duty, obligation, etc.
to take the veil
12 to receive or react to in a specified way
she took the news very well
13 to adopt as one's own
to take someone's part in a quarrel
14 to receive and make use of
to take advice
15 to receive into the body, as by eating, inhaling, etc.
to take a breath
16 to eat, drink, etc., esp. habitually
to take sugar in one's tea
17 to have or be engaged in for one's benefit or use
to take a rest
18 to work at or study
to take economics at college
19 to make, do, or perform (an action)
to take a leap
20 to make use of
to take an opportunity
21 to put into effect; adopt
to take measures
22 also intr to make a photograph of or admit of being photographed
23 to act or perform
she takes the part of the Queen
24 to write down or copy
to take notes
25 to experience or feel
to take pride in one's appearance, to take offence
26 to consider, believe, or regard
I take him to be honest
27 to consider or accept as valid
I take your point
28 to hold or maintain in the mind
his father took a dim view of his career
29 to deal or contend with
the tennis champion took her opponent's best strokes without difficulty
30 to use as a particular case
take hotels for example
31 intr; often foll by: from to diminish or detract
the actor's bad performance took from the effect of the play
32 to confront successfully
the horse took the jump at the third attempt
33 intr to have or produce the intended effect; succeed
her vaccination took, the glue is taking well
34 intr (of seeds, plants, etc.) to start growing successfully
35 to aim or direct
he took a swipe at his opponent
36 to deal a blow to in a specified place
37 Archaic to have sexual intercourse with
38 to carry off or remove from a place
39 to carry along or have in one's possession
don't forget to take your umbrella
40 to convey or transport
the train will take us out of the city
41 to use as a means of transport
I shall take the bus
42 to conduct or lead
this road takes you to the station
43 to escort or accompany
may I take you out tonight?
44 to bring or deliver to a state, position, etc.
his ability took him to the forefront in his field
45 to go to look for; seek
to take cover
46 to ascertain or determine by measuring, computing, etc.
to take a pulse, take a reading from a dial
47 intr (of a mechanism) to catch or engage (a part)
48 to put an end to; destroy
she took her own life
49 to come upon unexpectedly; discover
50 to contract
he took a chill
51 to affect or attack
the fever took him one night
52 copula to become suddenly or be rendered (ill)
he took sick, he was taken sick
53 also intr to absorb or become absorbed by something
to take a polish
54 usually passive to charm or captivate
she was very taken with the puppy
55 intr to be or become popular; win favour
56 to require or need
this job will take a lot of attention, that task will take all your time
57 to subtract or deduct
to take six from ten leaves four
58 to hold or contain
the suitcase won't take all your clothes
59 to quote or copy
he has taken several paragraphs from the book for his essay
60 to proceed to occupy
to take a seat
61 often foll by: to to use or employ
to take steps to ascertain the answer
62 to win or capture (a trick, counter, piece, etc.)
63 also intr to catch as prey or catch prey
64 Slang to cheat, deceive, or victimize
65 ♦
take amiss to be annoyed or offended by
66 ♦
take at one's word See →
word →
17
67 ♦
take care to pay attention; be heedful
68 ♦
take care of to assume responsibility for; look after
69 ♦
take chances or a chance to behave in a risky manner
70 ♦
take five (or ten)
Informal (chiefly U.S. and Canadian) to take a break of five (or ten) minutes
71 ♦
take heart to become encouraged
a to assume; believe
I take it you'll be back later
b Informal to stand up to or endure criticism, abuse, harsh treatment, etc.
73 ♦
take one's time to use as much time as is needed; not rush
74 ♦
take place to happen or occur
75 ♦
take (someone's) name in vain
a to use a name, esp. of God, disrespectfully or irreverently
b Jocular to say (someone's) name
76 ♦
take (something) upon oneself to assume the right to do or responsibility for (something)
n
78 the number of quarry killed or captured on one occasion
79 Informal (chiefly U.S.) the amount of anything taken, esp. money
a one of a series of recordings from which the best will be selected for release
b the process of taking one such recording
c a scene or part of a scene photographed without interruption
a any objective indication of a successful vaccination, such as a local skin reaction
b a successful skin graft
82 (Printing) a part of an article, story, etc., given to a compositor or keyboard operator for setting in type
83 Informal a try or attempt
84 Informal (chiefly U.S.) a version or interpretation Cronenberg's harsh take on the sci-fi story (See also)
→
take aback →
take after →
take against →
take apart →
take away →
take back →
take down →
take for →
take in →
take off →
take on →
take out →
take over →
take to →
take up (Old English tacan, from Old Norse taka; related to Gothic tekan to touch) ♦
takable, takeable adj
double take
n (esp. in comedy) a delayed reaction by a person to a remark, situation, etc.
give-and-take
n
1 mutual concessions, shared benefits, and cooperation
2 a smoothly flowing exchange of ideas and talk
vb
♦
give and take intr
3 to make mutual concessions
take aback
vb tr, adv to astonish or disconcert
take after
vb intr, prep
1 to resemble in appearance, character, behaviour, etc.
2 to follow as an example
take against
vb intr, prep to start to dislike, esp. without good reason
take apart
vb tr, adv
1 to separate (something) into component parts
2 to criticize or punish severely
the reviewers took the new play apart
take away
vb tr, adv
1 to deduct; subtract
take away four from nine to leave five
prep
2 minus
nine take away four is five
adj
♦
takeaway (Brit., Austral., and N.Z.)
3 sold for consumption away from the premises on which it is prepared
a takeaway meal
4 preparing and selling food for consumption away from the premises
a takeaway Indian restaurant
n
♦
takeaway (Brit., Austral., and N.Z.)
5 a shop or restaurant that sells such food
let's go to the Chinese takeaway
6 a meal bought at such a shop or restaurant
we'll have a Chinese takeaway tonight to save cooking (Scot. word (for senses 3--6))
carry-out (U.S. and Canadian word (for senses 3--6))
takeout
take back
vb adv, mainly tr
1 to retract or withdraw (something said, written, promised, etc.)
2 to regain possession of
3 to return for exchange
to take back a substandard garment
4 to accept (someone) back (into one's home, affections, etc.)
5 to remind one of the past; cause one to reminisce
that tune really takes me back
6 also intr (Printing) to move (copy) to the previous line
take down
vb tr, adv
2 to dismantle or tear down
to take down an old shed
3 to lower or reduce in power, arrogance, etc. (esp. in the phrase to take down a peg)
adj
♦
take-down
4 made or intended to be disassembled
take for
vb tr, prep
Informal to consider or suppose to be, esp. mistakenly
the fake coins were taken for genuine, who do you take me for?
take-home pay
n the remainder of one's pay after all income tax and other compulsory deductions have been made
take in
vb tr, adv
1 to comprehend or understand
2 to include or comprise
his thesis takes in that point
3 to receive into one's house in exchange for payment
to take in washing, take in lodgers
4 to make (an article of clothing, etc.) smaller by altering seams
5 to include
the tour takes in the islands as well as the mainland
6 Informal to cheat or deceive
7 to go to; visit
let's take in a movie tonight
n
♦
take-in
8 Informal the act or an instance of cheating or deceiving
take off
vb adv
1 tr to remove or discard (a garment)
2 intr (of an aircraft) to become airborne
3 Informal to set out or cause to set out on a journey
they took off for Spain
4 tr (of a disease) to prove fatal to; kill
5 tr
Informal to mimic or imitate, esp. in an amusing or satirical manner
6 intr
Informal to become successful or popular, esp. suddenly
n
♦
takeoff
7 the act or process of making an aircraft airborne
8 the stage of a country's economic development when rapid and sustained economic growth is first achieved
9 Informal an act of mimicry; imitation
take on
vb adv, mainly tr
1 to employ or hire
to take on new workmen
2 to assume or acquire
his voice took on a plaintive note
3 to agree to do; undertake
I'll take on that job for you
4 to compete against, oppose, or fight
I will take him on at tennis, I'll take him on any time
5 intr
Informal to exhibit great emotion, esp. grief
take out
vb tr, adv
2 to obtain or secure (a licence, patent, etc.) from an authority
3 to go out with; escort
George is taking Susan out next week
4 (Bridge) to bid a different suit from (one's partner) in order to rescue him from a difficult contract
5 Slang to kill or destroy
6 (Austral)
informal to win, esp. in sport
he took out the tennis championship
7 ♦
take it or a lot out of
Informal to sap the energy or vitality of
8 ♦
take out on
Informal to vent (anger, frustration, etc.) on (esp. an innocent person)
9 ♦
take someone out of himself
Informal to make someone forget his anxieties, problems, etc.
adj
♦
takeout
10 (Bridge) of or designating a conventional informatory bid, asking one's partner to bid another suit
adj
n
11 an informal word (chiefly U.S. and Canadian) for →
takeaway →
3--6
take over
vb adv
1 to assume the control or management of
2 (Printing) to move (copy) to the next line
n
♦
takeover
a the act of seizing or assuming power, control, etc.
b (as modifier)
takeover bid
4 (Sport) another word for →
changeover →
3
take to
vb intr, prep
1 to make for; flee to
to take to the hills
2 to form a liking for, esp. after a short acquaintance
I took to him straightaway
3 to have recourse to
to take to the bottle
4 ♦
take to heart to regard seriously
take up
vb adv, mainly tr
1 to adopt the study, practice, or activity of
to take up gardening
2 (Austral. and N.Z.) to occupy and break in (uncultivated land)
he took up some hundreds of acres in the back country
3 to shorten (a garment or part of a garment)
she took all her skirts up three inches
4 to pay off (a note, mortgage, etc.)
5 to agree to or accept (an invitation, etc.)
6 to pursue further or resume (something)
he took up French where he left off
8 to adopt as a protégé; act as a patron to
9 to occupy or fill (space or time)
10 to interrupt, esp. in order to contradict or criticize
a to argue or dispute with (someone)
can I take you up on two points in your talk?
b to accept what is offered by (someone)
let me take you up on your invitation
a to discuss with (someone); refer to
to take up a fault with the manufacturers
b intr to begin to keep company or associate with
n
♦
take-up
a the claiming or acceptance of something, esp. a state benefit, that is due or available
b (as modifier)
take-up rate
14 (Machinery) the distance through which a part must move to absorb the free play in a system
15 modifier denoting the part of a mechanism on which film, tape, or wire is wound up
a take-up spool on a tape recorder