I. ˈtāk verb
( took ˈtu̇k ; tak·en ˈtā-kən ; 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
- take a bath
- take account of
- take advantage of
- take after
- take a hike
- take aim at
- take apart
- take a powder
- take care
- take care of
- take charge
- take effect
- take exception
- take five
- take for
- take for a ride
- take for granted
- take heart
- take hold
- take into account
- take in vain
- take issue
- take it on the chin
- take kindly to
- take no prisoners
- take notice of
- take one's time
- take part
- take place
- take root
- take shape
- take ship
- take the cake
- take the count
- take the floor
- take the mickey
- take the mickey out of
- take the plunge
- take to
- take to court
- take to task
- take to the cleaners
- take turns
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
II. noun
Date: 1654
1. : something that is taken:
a. : the amount of money received : proceeds , receipts, income
b. : share , cut
wanted a bigger take
c. : the number or quantity (as of animals, fish, or pelts) taken at one time : catch , haul
d. : a section or installment done as a unit or at one time
e.
(1) : a scene filmed or televised at one time without stopping the camera
(2) : a sound recording made during a single recording period ; especially : a trial recording
2. : an act or the action of taking: as
a. : the action of killing, capturing, or catching (as game or fish)
b.
(1) : the uninterrupted photographing or televising of a scene
(2) : the making of a sound recording
3.
a. : a local or systemic reaction indicative of successful vaccination (as against smallpox)
b. : a successful union (as of a graft)
4. : a visible response or reaction (as to something unexpected)
a delayed take
5. : a distinct or personal point of view, outlook, or assessment
was asked for her take on recent developments
also : a distinct treatment or variation
a new take on an old style
•
- on the take