Pronunciation: ' t ā k
Function: verb
Inflected Form: took \ ' tu ̇ k \ ; tak · en \ ' t ā -k ə n \ ; tak · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tacan, from Old Norse taka; akin to Middle Dutch taken to take
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to get into one's hands or into one's possession, power, or control: as a : to seize or capture physically < took them as prisoners> b : to get possession of (as fish or game) by killing or capturing c (1) : to move against (as an opponent's piece in chess) and remove from play (2) : to win in a card game <able to take 12 tricks> d : to acquire by eminent domain
2 : GRASP , GRIP < take the ax by the handle>
3 a : to catch or attack through the effect of a sudden force or influence < taken with a fit of laughing> < taken ill> b : to catch or come upon in a particular situation or action <was taken unawares> c : to gain the approval or liking of : CAPTIVATE , DELIGHT <was quite taken with her at their first meeting>
4 a : to receive into one's body (as by swallowing, drinking, or inhaling) < take a pill> b : to put oneself into (as sun, air, or water) for pleasure or physical benefit c : to partake of : EAT < take s dinner about seven>
5 a : to bring or receive into a relation or connection < take s just four students a year> <it's time he took a wife> b : to copulate with
6 : to transfer into one's own keeping: a : APPROPRIATE <someone took my hat> b : to obtain or secure for use (as by lease, subscription, or purchase) < take a cottage for the summer> <I'll take the red one> < took an ad in the paper>
7 a : ASSUME <gods often took the likeness of a human being> <when the college took its present form> b (1) : to enter into or undertake the duties of < take a job> < take office> (2) : to move onto or into : move into position on <the home team took the field> < take the witness stand> c (1) : to bind oneself by < take the oath of office> (2) : to make (a decision) especially with finality or authority d : to impose upon oneself < take the trouble to do good work> < take pains to make her feel welcome> e (1) : to adopt as one's own < take a stand on the issue> < take an interest> (2) : to align or ally oneself with <mother took his side> f : to assume as if rightfully one's own or as if granted < take the credit> g : to accept the burden or consequences of < took the blame> h : to have or assume as a proper part of or accompaniment to itself <transitive verbs take an object>
8 a : to secure by winning in competition < took first place> b : DEFEAT
9 : to pick out : CHOOSE , SELECT < took the best apple>
10 : to adopt, choose, or avail oneself of for use: as a : to have recourse to as an instrument for doing something < take a scythe to the weeds> b : to use as a means of transportation or progression < take the bus> c : to have recourse to for safety or refuge < take shelter> d : to go along, into, or through < took a different route> e (1) : to proceed to occupy < take a seat in the rear> (2) : to use up (as space or time) < take s a long time to dry> (3) : NEED , REQUIRE < take s a size nine shoe> <it take s two to start a fight>
11 a : to obtain by deriving from a source : DRAW < take s its title from the name of the hero> b (1) : to obtain as the result of a special procedure : ASCERTAIN < take the temperature> < take a census> (2) : to get in or as if in writing < take notes> < take an inventory> (3) : to get by drawing or painting or by photography < take a snapshot> (4) : to get by transference from one surface to another < take a proof> < take fingerprints>
12 : to receive or accept whether willingly or reluctantly < take a bribe> <will you take this call> < take a bet>: as a (1) : to submit to : ENDURE < take a cut in pay> (2) : WITHSTAND <it will take a lot of punishment> (3) : SUFFER < took a direct hit> b (1) : to accept as true : BELIEVE <I'll take your word for it> (2) : FOLLOW < take my advice> (3) : to accept or regard with the mind in a specified way < took the news hard> <you take yourself too seriously> c : to indulge in and enjoy <was taking his ease on the porch> d : to receive or accept as a return (as in payment, compensation, or reparation) <we don't take credit cards> e : to accept in a usually professional relationship ― often used with on <agreed to take him on as a client> f : to refrain from hitting at (a pitched ball) < take a strike>
13 a (1) : to let in : ADMIT <the boat was taking water fast> (2) : ACCOMMODATE <the suitcase wouldn't take another thing> b : to be affected injuriously by (as a disease) : CONTRACT < take cold> also : to be seized by < take a fit> < take fright> c : to absorb or become impregnated with (as dye) also : to be effectively treated by <a surface that take s a fine polish>
14 a : APPREHEND , UNDERSTAND <how should I take your remark> b : CONSIDER , SUPPOSE <I take it you're not going> c : RECKON , ACCEPT < taking a stride at 30 inches> d : FEEL , EXPERIENCE < take pleasure> < take an instant dislike to someone> < take offense>
15 a : to lead, carry, or cause to go along to another place <this bus will take you into town> < took an umbrella with her> b : to cause to move to a specified state, condition, or sphere of activity < took the company public> < took his team to the finals> c : to stop prescribing a specified regimen to ― used with off < took him off the medication>
16 a : REMOVE < take eggs from a nest> b (1) : to put an end to (life) (2) : to remove by death <was taken in his prime> c : SUBTRACT < take two from four> d : EXACT <the weather took its toll>
17 a : to undertake and make, do, or perform < take a walk> < take aim> < take legal action> < take a test> < take a look> b : to participate in < take a meeting>
18 a : to deal with < take first things first> b : to consider or view in a particular relation < taken together, the details were significant> especially : to consider as an example < take style, for instance> c (1) : to apply oneself to the study of < take music lessons> < take French> (2) : to study for especially successfully < taking a degree in engineering> < took holy orders>
19 : to obtain money from especially fraudulently < took me for all I had>
20 : to pass or attempt to pass through, along, or over < took the curve too fast> < take the stairs two at a time>
intransitive verb
1 : to obtain possession: as a : CAPTURE b : to receive property under law as one's own
2 : to lay hold : CATCH , HOLD
3 : to establish a take especially by uniting or growing <90 percent of the grafts take >
4 a : to betake oneself : set out : GO < take after a purse snatcher> b chiefly dialect ― used as an intensifier or redundantly with a following verb < took and swung at the ball>
5 a : to take effect : ACT , OPERATE <hoped the lesson he taught would take > b : to show the natural or intended effect <dry fuel take s readily>
6 : CHARM , CAPTIVATE <a taking smile>
7 : DETRACT
8 : to be seized or attacked in a specified way : BECOME < took sick>
– tak · er noun
– take a back seat : to have or assume a secondary position or status
– take a bath : to suffer a heavy financial loss
– take account of : to take into account
– take advantage of
1 : to use to advantage : profit by
2 : to impose on : EXPLOIT also : to exploit sexually
– take after : to resemble in features, build, character, or disposition
– take a hike also take a walk : to go away : LEAVE
– take aim at : TARGET 1 <new legislation that takes aim at crime>
– take apart
1 : to disconnect the pieces of : DISASSEMBLE
2 : to treat roughly or harshly : tear into
– take a powder : to leave hurriedly
– take care : to be careful or watchful : exercise caution or prudence
– take care of : to attend to or provide for the needs, operation, or treatment of
– take charge : to assume care, custody, command, or control
– take effect
1 : to become operative
2 : to be effective
– take exception : OBJECT < took exception to the remark>
– take five or take ten : to take a break especially from work
– take for : to suppose to be especially : to suppose mistakenly to be
– take for a ride : TRICK , CHEAT
– take for granted
1 : to assume as true, real, or expected
2 : to value too lightly
– take heart : to gain courage or confidence
– take hold
1 : GRASP , GRIP , SEIZE
2 : to become attached or established : take effect
– take into account : to make allowance for
– take in vain : to use (a name) profanely or without proper respect
– take issue : DISAGREE
– take it on the chin : to suffer from the results of a situation
– take kindly to : to show an inclination to accept or approve
– take no prisoners : to be merciless or relentless (as in exploiting an advantage) <a politician who takes no prisoners >
– take notice of : to observe or treat with special attention
– take one's time : to be leisurely about doing something
– take part : JOIN , PARTICIPATE , SHARE
– take place : HAPPEN , OCCUR
– take root
1 : to become rooted
2 : to become fixed or established
– take shape : to assume a definite or distinctive form
– take ship : set out on a voyage by ship
– take the cake : to carry off the prize : rank first
– take the count
1 of a boxer : to be counted out
2 : to go down in defeat
– take the floor : to rise (as in a meeting or a legislative assembly) to make a formal address
– take the mickey
British : JOKE , KID
– take the mickey out of
British : to make fun of : TEASE
– take the plunge : to do or undertake something decisively especially after a period of hesitation or uncertainty
– take to
1 : to go to or into < take to the woods>
2 : to apply or devote oneself to (as a practice, habit, or occupation) < take to begging>
3 : to adapt oneself to : respond to < takes to water like a duck>
4 : to conceive a liking for
– take to court : to bring before a judicial body especially : SUE 3
– take to task : to call to account for a shortcoming : CRITICIZE
– take to the cleaners : to deprive of money or possessons : clean out
– take turns : ALTERNATE
synonyms TAKE , SEIZE , GRASP , CLUTCH , SNATCH , GRAB mean to get hold of by or as if by catching up with the hand. TAKE is a general term applicable to any manner of getting something into one's possession or control < take some salad from the bowl>. SEIZE implies a sudden and forcible movement in getting hold of something tangible or an apprehending of something fleeting or elusive when intangible < seized the suspect>. GRASP stresses a laying hold so as to have firmly in possession < grasp the handle and pull>. CLUTCH suggests avidity or anxiety in seizing or grasping and may imply less success in holding < clutching her purse>. SNATCH suggests more suddenness or quickness but less force than SEIZE < snatched a doughnut and ran>. GRAB implies more roughness or rudeness than SNATCH < grabbed roughly by the arm>.