1.
If you ~ a company, you get control of it, for example by buying its shares. (BUSINESS)
A British newspaper says British Airways plan to ~ Trans World Airways.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), also V n P
2.
If someone takes over a country or building, they get control of it by force, for example with the help of the army.
The Belgians took over Rwanda under a League of Nations mandate...
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron)
3.
If you ~ a job or role or if you ~, you become responsible for the job after someone else has stopped doing it.
His widow has taken over the running of his empire, including six London theatres...
In 1966, Pastor Albertz took over from him as governing mayor...
She took over as chief executive of the Book Trust.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V P from n, V P
4.
If one thing takes over from something else, it becomes more important, successful, or powerful than the other thing, and eventually replaces it.
Cars gradually took over from horses...
When the final vote came, rationality took over.
PHRASAL VERB: V P from n, V P
5.
see also takeover