/ teɪk; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( took / tʊk; NAmE / taken / ˈteɪkən; NAmE /)
CARRY / LEAD
1.
take sth (with you) | take sth (to sb) | take (sb) sth to carry or move sth from one place to another :
[ vn ]
I forgot to take my bag with me when I got off the bus.
Take this to the bank for me, would you?
[ vn , vnn ]
Shall I take a gift to my host family?
Shall I take my host family a gift?
2.
to go with sb from one place to another, especially to guide or lead them :
[ vn ]
It's too far to walk—I'll take you by car.
A boy took us to our room.
[ vn -ing ]
I'm taking the kids swimming later.
[ vn to inf ]
The boys were taken to see their grandparents most weekends.
3.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to make sb/sth go from one level, situation, etc. to another :
Her energy and talent took her to the top of her profession.
The new loan takes the total debt to $100 000.
I'd like to take my argument a stage further.
He believes he has the skills to take the club forward.
We'll take the matter forward at our next meeting (= discuss it further) .
REACH AND HOLD
4.
[ vn ] to put your hands or arms around sb/sth and hold them / it; to reach for sb/sth and hold them / it :
I passed him the rope and he took it.
Free newspapers: please take one.
Can you take (= hold) the baby for a moment?
He took her hand / took her by the hand (= held her hand, for example to lead her somewhere) .
She took the child in her arms and kissed him.
REMOVE
5.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to remove sth/sb from a place or a person :
Will you take your books off the table?
The sign must be taken down.
He took some keys out of his pocket.
My name had been taken off the list.
She was playing with a knife, so I took it away from her.
( informal )
She was playing with a knife, so I took it off her.
( figurative )
The new sports centre will take the pressure off the old one.
6.
[ vn ] to remove sth without permission or by mistake :
Someone has taken my scarf.
Did the burglars take anything valuable?
( figurative )
The storms took the lives of 50 people.
7.
[ vn ] take sth from sth / out of sth to get sth from a particular source :
The scientists are taking water samples from the river.
Part of her article is taken straight (= copied) out of my book.
The machine takes its name from its inventor.
CAPTURE
8.
take sth (from sb) to capture a place or person; to get control of sth :
[ vn ]
The rebels succeeded in taking the town.
The state has taken control of the company.
[ vn - n ]
The rebels took him prisoner.
He was taken prisoner by the rebels.
CHOOSE / BUY
9.
[ vn ] to choose, buy or rent sth :
I'll take the grey jacket.
We took a room at the hotel for two nights.
10.
[ vn ] ( formal ) to buy a newspaper or magazine regularly :
We take the 'Express'.
EAT / DRINK
11.
[ vn ] to eat, drink, etc. sth :
Do you take sugar in your coffee?
The doctor has given me some medicine to take for my cough.
He started taking drugs (= illegal drugs) at college.
MATHEMATICS
12.
[ vn ] take A (away) from B | take A away (not used in the progressive tenses) to reduce one number by the value of another
SYN subtract :
Take 5 from 12 and you're left with 7.
( informal )
80 take away 5 is 75.
WRITE DOWN
13.
[ vn ] to find out and record sth; to write sth down :
The police officer took my name and address.
Did you take notes in the class?
PHOTOGRAPH
14.
[ vn ] to photograph sb/sth :
to take a photograph / picture / snapshot of sb/sth
to have your picture / photo taken
MEASUREMENT
15.
[ vn ] to test or measure sth :
to take sb's temperature
I need to have my blood pressure taken.
SEAT
16.
[ vn ] to sit down in or use a chair, etc. :
Are these seats taken?
Come in; take a seat .
➡ note at sit
GIVE EXAMPLE
17.
[ vn ] used to introduce sb/sth as an example :
Lots of couples have problems in the first year of marriage. Take Ann and Paul.
ACCEPT / RECEIVE
18.
[ vn ] (not usually used in the progressive tenses or in the passive) to accept or receive sth :
If they offer me the job, I'll take it.
She was accused of taking bribes.
Does the hotel take credit cards?
I'll take the call in my office.
Why should I take the blame for somebody else's mistakes?
If you take my advice you'll have nothing more to do with him.
Will you take $10 for the book (= will you sell it for $10) ?
The store took (= sold goods worth) $100 000 last week.
19.
[ vn ] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to accept sb as a customer, patient, etc. :
The school doesn't take boys (= only has girls) .
The dentist can't take any new patients.
20.
[ vn ] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to experience or be affected by sth :
The school took the full force of the explosion.
Can the ropes take the strain (= not break) ?
The team took a terrible beating.
21.
[ vn ] [ no passive ] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to be able to bear sth :
She can't take criticism .
I don't think I can take much more of this heat.
I find his attitude a little hard to take .
22.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to react to sth/sb in a particular way :
He took the criticism surprisingly well.
These threats are not to be taken lightly.
I wish you'd take me seriously.
She took it in the spirit in which it was intended.
CONSIDER
23.
take sth (as sth) (not used in the progressive tenses) to understand or consider sth in a particular way :
[ vn ]
She took what he said as a compliment.
How am I supposed to take that remark?
Taken overall, the project was a success.
[ vn to inf ]
What did you take his comments to mean?
24.
take sb/sth for sb/sth / to be sb/sth (not used in the progressive tenses) to consider sb/sth to be sb/sth, especially when you are wrong :
[ vn ]
Even the experts took the painting for a genuine Van Gogh.
Of course I didn't do it! What do you take me for (= what sort of person do you think I am) ?
[ vn to inf ]
I took the man with him to be his father.
HAVE FEELING / OPINION
25.
[ vn ] (not usually used in the progressive tenses) to have a particular feeling, opinion or attitude :
My parents always took an interest in my hobbies.
Don't take offence (= be offended) at what I said.
I took a dislike to him.
He takes the view that children are responsible for their own actions.
ACTION
26.
[ vn ] to use a particular course of action in order to deal with or achieve sth :
The government is taking action to combat drug abuse.
We need to take a different approach to the problem.
27.
[ vn ] used with nouns to say that sb is doing sth, performing an action, etc. :
to take a step / walk / stroll
to take a bath / shower / wash
to take a look / glance
to take a bite / drink / sip
to take a deep breath
to take a break / rest
No decision will be taken on the matter until next week.
FORM / POSITION
28.
[ vn ] to have a particular form, position or state :
Our next class will take the form of a debate.
The new President takes office in January.
TIME
29.
[ no passive ] to need or require a particular amount of time :
[ vn ]
The journey to the airport takes about half an hour.
It takes about half an hour to get to the airport.
[ vnn ]
It took her three hours to repair her bike.
[ vn to inf ]
That cut is taking a long time to heal.
[ vnn , vn ]
It'll take her time to recover from the illness.
It'll take time (= take a long time) for her to recover from the illness.
[ v ]
I need a shower—I won't take long .
➡ note at last (I)
NEED
30.
[ no passive ] to need or require sth in order to happen or be done :
[ vn to inf ]
It only takes one careless driver to cause an accident.
It doesn't take much to make her angry.
[ vn ] ( informal )
He didn't take much persuading (= he was easily persuaded) .
31.
[ vn ] [ no passive ] (not used in the progressive tenses) ( of machines, etc. ) to use sth in order to work :
All new cars take unleaded petrol.
SIZE OF SHOES / CLOTHES
32.
[ vn ] [ no passive ] (not used in the progressive tenses) to wear a particular size in shoes or clothes :
What size shoes do you take?
HOLD / CONTAIN
33.
[ vn ] [ no passive ] (not used in the progressive tenses) to have enough space for sth/sb; to be able to hold or contain a particular quantity :
The bus can take 60 passengers.
The tank takes 50 litres.
TEACH / LEAD
34.
[ vn ] take sb (for sth) | take sth to be the teacher or leader in a class or a religious service :
The head teacher usually takes us for French.
STUDY
35.
[ vn ] to study a subject at school, college, etc. :
She is planning to take a computer course.
How many subjects are you taking this year?
EXAM
36.
[ vn ] to do an exam or a test :
When did you take your driving test?
TRANSPORT / ROAD
37.
[ vn ] to use a form of transport, a road, a path, etc. to go to a place :
to take the bus / plane / train
to take a cab
Take the second road on the right.
It's more interesting to take the coast road.
GO OVER / AROUND
38.
[ vn ] to go over or around sth :
The horse took the first fence well.
He takes bends much too fast.
IN SPORTS
39.
[ vn ] ( of a player in a sports game ) to kick or throw the ball from a fixed or agreed position :
to take a penalty / free kick / corner
VOTE / SURVEY
40.
[ vn ] to use a particular method to find out people's opinions :
to take a vote / poll / survey
BE SUCCESSFUL
41.
[ v ] to be successful; to work :
The skin graft failed to take.
GRAMMAR
42.
[ vn ] (not used in the progressive tenses) ( of verbs, nouns, etc. ) to have or require sth when used in a sentence or other structure :
The verb 'rely' takes the preposition 'on'.
•
IDIOMS
Most idioms containing take are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example take the biscuit is at biscuit .
- I, you, etc. can't take sb anywhere
- have (got) what it takes
- take sth as it comes | take sb as they come
- take it (that ... )
- take it from me (that ... )
- take it on / upon yourself to do sth
- sb can take it or leave it
- take it / a lot out of sb
- take some / a lot of doing
- take that!
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- take sb aback
- take after sb
- take against sb/sth
- take sb/sth apart
- take sth apart
- take sth away
- take away from sth
- take sb back
- take sb back (to ... )
- take sth back
- take sth down
- take sb in
- take sth in
- take off
- take sb off
- take sth off
- take yourself / sb off (to ... )
- take sb off sth
- take sth off sth
- take sb on
- take sth on
- take sth/sb on
- take sb out
- take sb/sth out
- take sth out
- take sth out (against sb)
- take sth out (of sth)
- take sth out of sth
- take it / sth out on sb
- take sb out of himself / herself
- take over (from sth)
- take over (from sb) | take sth over (from sb)
- take sth over
- take sb through sth
- take to sth
- take to sb/sth
- take up
- take up sth
- take sth up
- take up with sb
- take sb up on sth
- take sth up with sb
- be taken up with sth/sb
- be taken with sb/sth
■ noun
1.
a scene or part of a film / movie that is filmed at one time without stopping the camera :
We managed to get it right in just two takes.
2.
[ usually sing. ] ( informal ) an amount of money that sb receives, especially the money that is earned by a business during a particular period of time
SYN takings :
How much is my share of the take?
3.
take on sth ( informal ) the particular opinion or idea that sb has about sth :
What's his take on the plan?
a new take on the Romeo and Juliet story (= a way of presenting it)
—see also double take
•
IDIOMS
- be on the take
••
SYNONYMS
take
lead ♦ escort ♦ drive ♦ show ♦ guide ♦ usher ♦ direct
All these words mean to go with sb from one place to another.
take
to go with sb from one place to another, for example in order to show them sth or to show them the way to a place:
It's too far to walk—I'll take you by car.
lead
to go with or go in front of sb in order to show them the way or to make them go in the right direction:
Firefighters led the survivors to safety.
escort
to go with sb in order to protect or guard them or to show them the way:
The president arrived, escorted by twelve bodyguards.
drive
to take sb somewhere in a car, taxi, etc.:
My mother drove us to the airport.
show
to take sb to a particular place, in the right direction, or along the correct route:
The attendant showed us to our seats.
guide
to show sb the way to a place, often by going with them; to show sb a place that you know well:
She guided us through the busy streets.
•
We were guided around the museums.
usher
( rather formal ) to politely take or show sb where they should go, especially within a building:
She ushered her guests to their seats.
direct
( rather formal ) to tell or show sb how to get somewhere or where to go:
A young woman directed them to the station.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to take / lead / escort / drive / show / guide / usher / direct sb to / out of / into sth
to take / lead / escort / drive / show / guide sb around / round
to take / lead / escort / drive sb home
to take / lead / escort / guide sb to safety
to lead / show the way
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Old English tacan get (especially by force), capture , from Old Norse taka grasp, lay hold of, of unknown ultimate origin.