Dictionary
take
Pronunciation: (tāk), [key]
—v., took, tak•en, tak•ing,
—n.
—
v.t.
1. 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.
2. to hold, grasp, or grip:
to take a book in one's hand; to take a child by the hand.
3. to get into one's hands, possession, control, etc., by force or artifice:
to take a bone from a snarling dog.
4. to seize or capture:
to take an enemy town; to take a prisoner.
5. to catch or get (fish, game, etc.), esp. by killing:
to take a dozen trout on a good afternoon.
6. to pick from a number; select:
Take whichever you wish.
7. to receive and accept willingly (something given or offered):
to take a compliment with a smile; to take a bribe.
8. to receive or be the recipient of (something bestowed, administered, etc.):
to take first prize.
9. to accept and act upon or comply with:
to take advice; to take a dare.
10. to receive or accept (a person) into some relation:
to take someone in marriage; to take new members once a year.
11. to receive, react, or respond to in a specified manner:
Although she kept calm, she took his death hard.
12. to receive as a payment or charge:
He refused to take any money for the use of his car.
13. to gain for use by payment, lease, etc.:
to take a box at the opera; to take a beach house for a month.
14. to secure regularly or periodically by payment:
to take a magazine.
15. to get or obtain from a source; derive:
The book takes its title from Dante.
16. to extract or quote:
He took whole passages straight from Dickens.
17. to obtain or exact as compensation for some wrong:
to take revenge.
18. to receive into the body or system, as by swallowing or inhaling:
to take a pill; to take a breath of fresh air.
19. to have for one's benefit or use:
to take a meal; to take a nap; to take a bath.
20. to use as a flavoring agent in a food or beverage:
to take sugar in one's coffee.
21. to be subjected to; undergo:
to take a heat treatment.
22. to endure or submit to with equanimity or without an appreciable weakening of one's resistance:
to take a joke; unable to take punishment.
23. to enter into the enjoyment of (recreation, a holiday, etc.):
to take a vacation.
24. to carry off without permission:
to take something that belongs to another.
25. to remove:
to take the pins out of one's hair.
26. to remove by death:
The flood took many families.
27. to end (a life):
She took her own life.
28. to subtract or deduct:
If you take 2 from 5, that leaves 3.
29. to carry with one:
Take your lunch with you. Are you taking an umbrella?
30. to convey in a means of transportation:
We took them for a ride in the country.
31. (of a vehicle) to convey or transport:
Will this bus take me across town?
32. (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.
33. to bring about a change in the state or condition of:
Her ambition and perseverance took her quickly to the top of her field.
34. to conduct or escort:
to take someone out for dinner.
35. 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.
36. to come upon suddenly; catch:
to take someone by surprise.
37. to get or contract; catch:
He took cold over the weekend. I took a chill.
38. to attack or affect, as with a disease:
suddenly taken with a fit of coughing.
39. to be capable of attaining as a result of some action or treatment:
Most leathers take a high polish.
40. to absorb or become impregnated with; be susceptible to:
Waxed paper will not take ink. This cloth takes dye.
41. to attract and hold:
The red sweater took his eye. The urgent voice took her attention.
42. to captivate or charm:
The kitten took my fancy.
43. to require:
It takes courage to do that. The climb took all our strength.
44. to employ for some specified or implied purpose:
to take measures to curb drugs.
45. to use as a means of transportation:
to take a bus to the ferry.
46. to get on or board (a means of transportation) at a given time or in a given place:
She takes the train at Scarsdale.
47. to proceed to occupy:
to take a seat.
48. to occupy; fill (time, space, etc.):
His hobby takes most of his spare time. The machine takes a lot of room.
49. to use up; consume:
This car takes a great deal of oil. He took ten minutes to solve the problem.
50. to avail oneself of:
He took the opportunity to leave. She took the time to finish it properly.
51. to do, perform, execute, etc.:
to take a walk.
52. to go into or enter:
Take the next road to the left.
53. to adopt and enter upon (a way, course, etc.):
to take the path of least resistance.
54. to act or perform:
to take the part of the hero.
55. to make (a reproduction, picture, or photograph):
to take home movies of the children.
56. to make a picture, esp. a photograph, of:
The photographer took us sitting down.
57. to write down:
to take a letter in shorthand; to take notes at a lecture.
58. to apply oneself to; study:
to take ballet; She took four courses in her freshman year.
59. to deal with; treat:
to take things in their proper order.
60. to proceed to handle in some manner:
to take a matter under consideration.
61. to assume or undertake (a function, duty, job, etc.):
The mayor took office last month.
62. to assume or adopt (a symbol, badge, or the like) as a token of office:
to take the veil; to take the throne.
63. to assume the obligation of; be bound by:
to take an oath.
64. to assume or adopt as one's own:
to take someone's part in an argument; He took the side of the speaker.
65. to assume or appropriate as if by right:
to take credit for someone else's work.
66. to accept the burden of:
She took the blame for his failure.
67. to determine by inquiry, examination, measurement, scientific observation, etc.:
to take someone's pulse; to take a census.
68. to make or carry out for purposes of yielding such a determination:
to take someone's measurements; to take a seismographic reading.
69. to begin to have; experience (a certain feeling or state of mind):
to take pride in one's appearance.
70. to form and hold in the mind:
to take a gloomy view.
71. to grasp or apprehend mentally; understand; comprehend:
Do you take my meaning, sir?
72. to understand in a specified way:
You shouldn't take the remark as an insult.
73. to grasp the meaning of (a person):
if we take him correctly.
74. to accept the statements of:
to take him at his word.
75. to assume as a fact:
I take it that you will be there.
76. to regard or consider:
They were taken to be wealthy.
77. to capture or win (a piece, trick, etc.) in a game.
78. Informal.to cheat, swindle, or victimize:
They really take people in that shop. The museum got taken on that painting.
79. to win or obtain money from:
He took me for $10 in the poker game.
80. (of a man) to have sexual intercourse with.
81. Gram.to be used with (a certain form, accent, case, mood, etc.):
a verb that always takes an object.
82. Law.to acquire property, as on the happening of an event:
They take a fortune under the will.
83. Baseball.(of a batter) to allow (a pitch) to go by without swinging at it:
He took a third strike.
—
v.i.
1. to catch or engage, as a mechanical device:
She turned the key and heard a click as the catch took.
2. to strike root or begin to grow, as a plant.
3. to adhere, as ink, dye, or color.
4. (of a person or thing) to win favor or acceptance:
a new TV show that took with the public.
5. to have the intended result or effect, as a medicine, inoculation, etc.:
The vaccination took.
6. to enter into possession, as of an estate.
7. to detract (usually fol. by
from).
8. to apply or devote oneself:
He took to his studies.
9. to make one's way; proceed; go:
to take across the meadow.
10. to fall or become:
She took sick and had to go home.
11. to admit of being photographed in a particular manner:
a model who takes exceptionally well.
12. to admit of being moved or separated:
This crib takes apart for easy storage.
13. take after,
a. to resemble (another person, as a parent) physically, temperamentally, etc.:
The baby took after his mother.
b. Also,take off after,take out after.to follow; chase:
The detective took after the burglars.
14. take back,
a. to regain possession of:
to take back one's lawn mower.
b. to return, as for exchange:
It was defective, so I took it back to the store.
c. to allow to return; resume a relationship with:
She said she would never take him back again.
d. to cause to remember:
It takes one back to the old days.
e. to retract:
to take back a statement.
15. take down,
a. to move from a higher to a lower level or place.
b. to pull apart or take apart; dismantle; disassemble.
c. to write down; record.
d. to diminish the pride or arrogance of; humble:
to take someone down a notch or two.
16. take for,
a. to assume to be:
I took it for the truth.
b. to assume falsely to be; mistake for:
to be taken for a foreigner.
17. take for granted. See
grant (def. 6).
18. take in,
a. to permit to enter; admit.
b. to alter (an article of clothing) so as to make smaller.
c. to provide lodging for.
d. to include; encompass.
e. to grasp the meaning of; comprehend.
f. to deceive; trick; cheat.
g. to observe; notice.
h. to visit or attend:
to take in a show.
i. to furl (a sail).
j. to receive as proceeds, as from business activity.
k. Chiefly Brit.to subscribe to:
to take in a magazine.
19. take it,
a. to accept or believe something; aquiesce:
I'll take it on your say-so.
b. Informal.to be able to resist or endure hardship, abuse, etc.
c. to understand:
I take it that you're not interested.
20. 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.
21. take it out of,
a. to exhaust; enervate:
Every year the winter takes it out of me.
b. to exact payment from; penalize:
They took it out of your pay.
22. 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!
23. take off,
a. to remove:
Take off your coat.
b. to lead away:
The child was taken off by kidnappers.
c. Informal.to depart; leave:
They took off yesterday for California.
d. to leave the ground, as an airplane.
e. to move onward or forward with a sudden or intense burst of speed:
The police car took off after the drunken driver.
f. to withdraw or remove from:
She was taken off the night shift.
g. to remove by death; kill:
Millions were taken off by the Black Plague.
h. to make a likeness or copy of; reproduce.
i. to subtract, as a discount; deduct:
Shop early and we'll take off 20 percent.
j. Informal.to imitate; mimic; burlesque.
k. 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.
24. take on,
a. to hire; employ.
b. to undertake; assume:
to take on new responsibilities.
c. to acquire:
The situation begins to take on a new light.
d. to accept as a challenge; contend against:
to take on a bully.
e. Informal.to show great emotion; become excited:
There's no need to take on so.
25. take out,
a. to withdraw; remove:
to take out a handkerchief.
b. to procure by application:
to take out an insurance policy.
c. to carry out for use or consumption elsewhere:
to take a book out of the library; to get food to take out.
d. to escort; invite:
He takes out my sister now and then.
e. to set out; start:
They took out for the nearest beach.
f. Slang.to kill; destroy.
26. take over,to assume management or possession of or responsibility for:
The first officer took over the ship when the captain suffered a heart attack.
27. take to,
a. to devote or apply oneself to; become habituated to:
to take to drink.
b. to respond favorably to; begin to like:
They took to each other at once.
c. to go to:
to take to one's bed.
d. to have recourse to; resort to:
She took to getting up at five to go jogging before work.
28. take up,
a. to occupy oneself with the study or practice of:
She took up painting in her spare time.
b. to lift or pick up:
He took up the fallen leaves with a rake.
c. to occupy; cover:
A grand piano would take up half of our living room.
d. to consume; use up; absorb:
Traveling to her job takes up a great deal of time.
e. to begin to advocate or support; sponsor:
He has taken up another struggling artist.
f. to continue; resume:
We took up where we had left off.
g. to reply to in order to reprove:
The author takes up his critics in the preface of his latest book.
h. to assume:
He took up the duties of the presidency.
i. to absorb:
Use a sponge to take up the spilled milk.
j. to make shorter, as by hemming:
to take up the sleeves an inch.
k. to make tighter, as by winding in:
to take up the slack in a reel of tape.
l. to deal with in discussion:
to take up the issue of mass transit.
m. to adopt seriously:
to take up the idea of seeking public office.
n. to accept, as an offer or challenge.
o. to buy as much as is offered:
The sale was taken up in a matter of days.
p. Chiefly Brit.to clear by paying off, as a loan.
q. Obs.to arrest (esp. a runaway slave).
29. take up a collection, to ask for or gather donations, usually of money, from a number of people.
30. take upon oneself, to assume as a responsibility or obligation:
She has taken it upon herself to support the family.
31. take up with, Informal.to become friendly with; keep company with:
He took up with a bad crowd.
—
n.
1. the act of taking.
2. something that is taken.
3. the quantity of fish, game, etc., taken at one time.
4. an opinion or assessment:
What's your take on the candidate?
5. an approach; treatment:
a new take on an old idea.
6. Informal.money taken in, esp. profits.
7. Journalism.a portion of copy assigned to a Linotype operator or compositor, usually part of a story or article.
8. Motion Pictures.
a. a scene, or a portion of a scene, photographed without any interruption or break.
b. an instance of such continuous operation of the camera.
9. 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.
10. a recording of a musical performance.
11. Med.a successful inoculation.
12. on the take, Slang.
a. accepting bribes.
b. in search of personal profit at the expense of others.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
