Function: transitive verb
Date: 15th century
1 a : to begin to perform or deal with : UNDERTAKE < took on new responsibilities> b : to contend with as an opponent < took on the neighborhood bully>
2 : ENGAGE , HIRE
3 a : to assume or acquire as or as if one's own <the city's plaza takes on a carnival air ― W. T. LeViness> b : to have as a mathematical domain or range <what values does the function take on >
intransitive verb : to show one's feelings especially of grief or anger in a demonstrative way <she cried, and took on like a distracted body ― Daniel Defoe>