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take
[ teyk ]
verb (used with object)
- 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.
Synonyms: procure, secure, acquire
Antonyms: give
- 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.
Synonyms: choose
- 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.
Synonyms: use
- 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.
Synonyms: ascertain
- 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.
- Informal. 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.
- Grammar. to be used with (a certain form, accent, case, mood, etc.):
a verb that always takes an object.
- Law. to acquire property, as on the happening of an event:
They take a fortune under the will.
- Baseball. (of a batter) to allow (a pitch) to go by without swinging at it:
He took a third strike.
verb (used without object)
- 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.
- Informal. 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.
- Informal. 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.
- Medicine/Medical. a successful inoculation.
- Journalism. (formerly) a portion of copy assigned to a Linotype operator or compositor, usually part of a story or article.
verb phrase
- 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.
- to remove:
Take off your coat.
- to lead away:
The child was taken off by kidnappers.
- Informal. 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.
- Informal. to imitate; mimic; burlesque.
- Informal. 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.
- to resemble (another person, as a parent) physically, temperamentally, etc.:
The baby took after his mother.
- Also take off after, take out after. to follow; chase:
The detective took after the burglars.
- 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.
- 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.
- Slang. to kill; destroy.
- 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.
- Chiefly British. to clear by paying off, as a loan.
- 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.
- Informal. to become friendly with; keep company with:
He took up with a bad crowd.
- to assume to be:
I took it for the truth.
- to assume falsely to be; mistake for:
to be taken for a foreigner.
- 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.
- Informal. to show great emotion; become excited:
There's no need to take on so.
- 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.
- Chiefly British. to subscribe to:
to take in a magazine.
- to assume management or possession of or responsibility for:
The first officer took over the ship when the captain suffered a heart attack.
take
1/ ˈtɑːkɪ /
noun
- a topic or cause
take
2/ teɪk /
verb
- also intr to gain possession of (something) by force or effort
- to appropriate or steal
to take other people's belongings
- to receive or accept into a relationship with oneself
to take a wife
- to pay for or buy
- to rent or lease
to take a flat in town
- to receive or obtain by regular payment
we take a newspaper every day
- to obtain by competing for; win
to take first prize
- to obtain or derive from a source
he took his good manners from his older brother
- to assume the obligations of
to take office
- to endure, esp with fortitude
to take punishment
- to adopt as a symbol of duty, obligation, etc
to take the veil
- to receive or react to in a specified way
she took the news very well
- to adopt as one's own
to take someone's part in a quarrel
- to receive and make use of
to take advice
- to receive into the body, as by eating, inhaling, etc
to take a breath
- to eat, drink, etc, esp habitually
to take sugar in one's tea
- to have or be engaged in for one's benefit or use
to take a rest
- to work at or study
to take economics at college
- to make, do, or perform (an action)
to take a leap
- to make use of
to take an opportunity
- to put into effect; adopt
to take measures
- also intr to make a photograph of or admit of being photographed
- to act or perform
she takes the part of the Queen
- to write down or copy
to take notes
- to experience or feel
to take pride in one's appearance
to take offence
- to consider, believe, or regard
I take him to be honest
- to consider or accept as valid
I take your point
- to hold or maintain in the mind
his father took a dim view of his career
- to deal or contend with
the tennis champion took her opponent's best strokes without difficulty
- to use as a particular case
take hotels for example
- introften foll byfrom to diminish or detract
the actor's bad performance took from the effect of the play
- to confront successfully
the horse took the jump at the third attempt
- intr to have or produce the intended effect; succeed
her vaccination took
the glue is taking well
- intr (of seeds, plants, etc) to start growing successfully
- to aim or direct
he took a swipe at his opponent
- to deal a blow to in a specified place
- archaic.to have sexual intercourse with
- to carry off or remove from a place
- to carry along or have in one's possession
don't forget to take your umbrella
- to convey or transport
the train will take us out of the city
- to use as a means of transport
I shall take the bus
- to conduct or lead
this road takes you to the station
- to escort or accompany
may I take you out tonight?
- to bring or deliver to a state, position, etc
his ability took him to the forefront in his field
- to go to look for; seek
to take cover
- to ascertain or determine by measuring, computing, etc
take a reading from a dial
to take a pulse
- intr (of a mechanism) to catch or engage (a part)
- to put an end to; destroy
she took her own life
- to come upon unexpectedly; discover
- to contract
he took a chill
- to affect or attack
the fever took him one night
- copula to become suddenly or be rendered (ill)
he took sick
he was taken sick
- also intr to absorb or become absorbed by something
to take a polish
- usually passive to charm or captivate
she was very taken with the puppy
- intr to be or become popular; win favour
- to require or need
that task will take all your time
this job will take a lot of attention
- to subtract or deduct
to take six from ten leaves four
- to hold or contain
the suitcase won't take all your clothes
- to quote or copy
he has taken several paragraphs from the book for his essay
- to proceed to occupy
to take a seat
- often foll by to to use or employ
to take steps to ascertain the answer
- to win or capture (a trick, counter, piece, etc)
- also intr to catch as prey or catch prey
- slang.to cheat, deceive, or victimize
- take amissto be annoyed or offended by
- take at one's wordSee word
- take careto pay attention; be heedful
- take care ofto assume responsibility for; look after
- take chances or take a chanceto behave in a risky manner
- take five informal.to take a break of five minutes
- take heartto become encouraged
- take it
- to assume; believe
I take it you'll be back later
- to stand up to or endure criticism, abuse, harsh treatment, etc
- take one's timeto use as much time as is needed; not rush
- take placeto happen or occur
- take someone's name in vain
- to use a name, esp of God, disrespectfully or irreverently
- to say (someone's) name
- take something upon oneselfto assume the right to do or responsibility for (something)
noun
- the act of taking
- the number of quarry killed or captured on one occasion
- informal.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
- printing a part of an article, story, etc, given to a compositor or keyboard operator for setting in type
- informal.a try or attempt
- informal.a version or interpretation
Cronenberg's harsh take on the sci-fi story
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Derived Forms
- ˈtakable, adjective
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Other Words From
- taka·ble takea·ble adjective
- taker noun
- un·taka·ble adjective
- un·takea·ble adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of take1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of take1
Origin of take2
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Idioms and Phrases
- on the take, Slang.
- accepting bribes.
- in search of personal profit at the expense of others.
- take it out in, 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.
- take it out on, Informal. 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!
- take it,
- to accept or believe something; aquiesce:
I'll take it on your say-so.
- Informal. to be able to resist or endure hardship, abuse, etc.
- to understand:
I take it that you're not interested.
- take up a collection, to ask for or gather donations, usually of money, from a number of people.
- take upon oneself, to assume as a responsibility or obligation:
She has taken it upon herself to support the family.
- take for granted. grant ( def 10 ).
More idioms and phrases containing take
- at (take) pains
- devil take the hindmost
- double take
- give and take
- give or take
- go to (take) the trouble
- have (take) a crack at
- have (take) a fit
- in (take) effect
- (take) in good part
- in tow, take
- it takes all sorts
- it takes getting used to
- it takes one to know one
- (take) off one's hands
- (take) on faith
- on the take
- pay your money and take your choice
- pride oneself (take pride in)
- (take a) rain check
- sit up and take notice
- that's (takes care of) that
- what do you take me for
- what it takes
- (take) with a grain of salt
- you can lead (take) a horse to water
- you can't take it with you
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Synonym Study
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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