Function: transitive verb
Date: 14th century
1 : PICK UP , LIFT < took up the carpet>
2 a : to begin to occupy (land) b : to gather from a number of sources < took up a collection>
3 a : to accept or adopt for the purpose of assisting b : to accept or adopt as one's own < took up the life of a farmer> < took up Irish citizenship> c : to absorb or incorporate into itself <plants taking up nutrients>
4 a : to enter upon (as a business, hobby, or subject of study) < take up skiing> < took up the trumpet> <had taken up Marxism> b : to proceed to consider or deal with < take up one problem at a time>
5 : to establish oneself in < took up residence in town>
6 : to occupy entirely or exclusively : fill up <the meeting was taken up with old business>
7 : to make tighter or shorter < take up the slack>
8 : to respond favorably to (as a person offering a bet, challenge, or proposal) < took me up on it>
9 : to begin again or take over from another <we must take the good work up again>
intransitive verb
1 : to make a beginning where another has left off
2 : to become shortened : draw together : SHRINK
– take up the cudgels : to engage vigorously in a defense or dispute
– take up with
1 : to become interested or absorbed in
2 : to begin to associate or consort with