I. ˈtāk transitive verb
( took ˈtu̇k, dial ˈtək ; or dialect tak·en ˈtākən sometimes -k ə ŋ ; taken “ ; or dialect took or chiefly Scottish tane ˈtān ; taking ; takes )
Etymology: Middle English taken, from Old English tacan, from Old Norse taka; akin to Middle Dutch taken to take, Gothic tekan to touch
1. : to get into one's hands or into one's possession, power, or control by force or stratagem: as
a. : to seize or capture physically (as men, munitions, works, or territory in war, a person charged with an offense, or a piece of property by legal process)
took 300 of the enemy's men and a dozen of his cannon
believed they could take the fort in about three days
was taken by the police within three hours of the crime
took the town and carried off what wine and oil it contained — C.L.Jones
b.
(1) : to get possession of (as fish or game) by killing or capturing
eighty percent of the whales today are taken in the Antarctic — Mary H. Vorse
the nets by which the bats were to be taken — R.L.Ditmars & A.M.Greenhall
took many nice fish — Alexander MacDonald
had never more than three or four pellets in them … for he took them upon the very edge of the shot pattern — William Humphrey
proclamation governing the taking of upland game birds and deer — N. Dak. Hunting Regulations
— sometimes used to include acts in attempt to kill or capture
the word take as used in this Act means hunt, shoot, pursue, lure, kill, destroy, capture, trap or ensnare, or to attempt so to do — Illinois Game & Fish Codes
(2) : to seize as prey
tales of children taken by tigers
c. : to capture or secure (as an opponent's piece in chess or card in bridge) in order to remove from play
took his opponent's queen on the fourth move
also : to serve to capture
planned to let his rook take the knight
ace takes the king
d. : to seize or destroy (property) for public purposes : acquire title by eminent domain : confiscate
e.
(1) : to catch or field (as a batted ball) in baseball or cricket
take it on the fly
took it on the first hop
(2) : to catch (a batsman) out in cricket
was taken in the slips
2.
a. : to lay or get hold of with arms, hands, or fingers or with a hand or an instrument : grasp , grip
take the ax by the handle
take the book in your right hand
always took his hand when they crossed the street
took his sleeve to guide him
took him by the shoulders and shook him soundly
dentist took the tooth in his forceps
took the child in her arms to comfort it
take the railing as you go down
b. : to catch hold upon (as by contact or adhesion)
sound of a ship taking the ground
oars rhythmically taking the water
3.
a. : to catch, seize, or attack through the effect of a sudden force or influence: as
(1) : to seize or attack so as to have an effect upon
was taken with a fit of laughing
was suddenly taken with a need for companionship
liked to work as the humor took him
toward morning he was taken with frenzy and leaped from bed — J.A.Michener
seemed to be taken with a great restlessness — S.H.Holbrook
(2) : to strike or affect so as to cause to be in a particular condition
was taken ill
found himself taken hoarse
was taken down with pneumonia
(3) : to attack through magical or supernatural forces : cast a spell on : use malign influence over
blasts the tree and takes the cattle — Shakespeare
b. : to catch or come upon (as a person) in a particular situation or action
question took him unprepared
was taken unawares
tried to take him napping
took him in the very act
c. : to strike or hit (as a person) usually in or on a specified part
a straight left-hander that took him on the broad chin — Arthur Morrison
took the boy a smart box on the ear
d.
(1) : to capture or gain the approval or liking of : captivate , charm , delight
performance that seemed to have taken the fancy of the crowd
— usually used with with
was much taken with him at their first meeting
so taken with the decorations that she decided to copy them
or sometimes with by
quite taken by their concern for his comfort
(2) : to catch and hold (as the attention, interest, regard) often for only a short time
took his attention momentarily
kind of thing that takes one's eye
4.
a. : to get into one's hand or one's hold or possession by a physical act of simple transference
I take my pen in hand
took his hat and coat and left
reached over and took a piece of bread
took a cigar and lit it
took the youngster on her lap
took a stake and pounded it in the ground
b.
(1) : to introduce or receive into one's body (as by eating, drinking, or inhaling)
had taken no food for three days
take a glass of water
take snuff
takes the smoke into his lungs
take one tablet after each meal
took poison
killed himself by taking gas
communed with spirits while taking tobacco and a narcotic herb — J.H.Steward
label reading “this medicine is not to be taken internally”
took his bottle well and had gained back to birth weight — E.F.Patton
(2) : to expose oneself to (as sun or air) for pleasure or for physical benefit
taking the sun on the beach before the little teahouse — Hamilton Basso
piers … where families in the neighborhood could take the river air in warm weather — Brooks Atkinson
(3) : to partake of (as a meal) : eat , drink
the audience would take tea there — Virginia Woolf
took supper with an English earl — F.B.Gipson
residents are required to take their meals in the houses — Official Register of Harvard University
takes dinner about six
5.
a.
(1) : to bring or receive into a relation or connection
took his son into the firm
wouldn't take me into his confidence
takes a few private pupils
was reduced to taking lodgers
time he took a wife
the stupid bride he means to take — Carl Van Doren
took a squaw to wife — Burges Johnson
serve you right if she took a lover — Guy McCrone
(2) : to receive into one's household for provision and care or to adopt
took her dead brother's youngest child
married children arranged to take their father a month at a time
agreed to take a war orphan
b. : to copulate with
6. : to transfer into one's own keeping : enter into or arrange for possession, ownership, or use of:
a. : appropriate
took the umbrella to keep it from being lost or stolen
if nobody wants this, I'll take it
found that somebody had taken his hat
accused me of taking his camera
had been taking money out of the till for months
b.
(1) : to obtain or secure for use (as by lease, subscription, or contract)
take a cottage for the summer
take a box at the opera
family takes several magazines
take two quarts of milk every other day
(2) : to obtain by purchasing : buy
spent an hour looking around but didn't take anything
finally decided to take a blue serge suit
wanted to take the ranch house but his wife wouldn't agree
salesman tried to persuade him to take the convertible
7. : to adopt or lay hold of for oneself or as one's own : assume: as
a.
(1) : to invest oneself with (as a property or an attribute)
butter often takes the flavor of substances near it
fog took ghostly shapes
ancient Greek gods often took the likeness of a human being
unconsciously he took color from his environment — V.L.Parrington
take different shapes on different occasions — Curtis Bok
also : to assume a property or attribute of
the plaster took the mold in perfect detail
(2) : to assume as a badge or symbol (as of a function or an office)
take the veil of a nun
asked him to take the gavel
had taken the throne at twenty
b. : to charge oneself with (as a duty, obligation, or task) : undertake
take office
take service under a foreign flag
take the responsibility for keeping order
each teacher must take the study hall once every week
specifically : to assume responsibility for checking the effectiveness of (a player on an opposing team) on a given play
our right end takes defensive fullback — A.E.Neale
c.
(1) : to subject oneself to : bind oneself by
take a vow
take a pledge
take my oath he hasn't grown an inch — New Yorker
took oath as president on December 1st — Virginia Prewett
(2) obsolete : to make oneself responsible for the truth of (as a statement) : affirm , swear — used with it
took 't upon mine honor thou hadst it not — Shakespeare
d.
(1) : to undertake and perform or exercise
take the role of the villain
took an important part in the negotiations
the teacher who took the third grade last year
take soprano
had to take three sections of freshman English
curate took the early morning service
(2) : to give or impose upon oneself (as special or added responsibility) as part of or in the course of something undertaken or done — used chiefly in the phrase take pains or take the trouble
man who is willing to take the trouble to do good work
have taken pains with the documentation — Van Wyck Brooks
took no pains to soften their footsteps — Jean Stafford
few of our statesmen can have taken so little pains to keep themselves in the public eye — G.M.Young
e. : to adopt (as another's part or side) as one's own : align or ally oneself with
knew that his mother would take his side
— often used in the phrase take sides
members take sides against each other in all public affairs — A.C.Whitehead
f. : to adopt or advance as one's fundamental point of argument or defense
a point well taken
took his stand on judicial incorruptibility
g. : to assume as if rightfully one's own or as if granted : arrogate to oneself
take the credit
take the liberty of disagreeing
took my consent for granted
take leave to protest
h. : to have or assume as a proper part of or accompaniment to itself : be formed or used with
takes an accent on the last syllable
takes an s in the plural
transitive verbs take an object
takes the objective case
plural noun takes a plural verb
8.
a. : to secure by winning in competition : win
took six tricks in a row
took the fight by a knockout
took first place in the broad jump
took the Latin prize for two years
was lucky to take one game out of four
took first-class honors in history — Current Biography
took ribbons for his vegetables — Lamp
b. : to win over (as an opponent) : beat , defeat
took him in straight sets
bragged that he could take the new marshal — J.W.Schaefer
9. : to pick out : choose , select
was told to take the road bearing left at the fork
always took the middle course if there was one
let him take his pick
take any number from one to ten
10. : to adopt, choose, or avail oneself of for use : have recourse to and use
take the first opportunity
took every means he could think of
was forced to take severe measures
as
a. : to have recourse to as an instrument for doing something
had taken his belt to the disobedient boy
nothing to do with the weeds but take a scythe to them
b. : to use as a means of transportation or progression
could take the subway to work
took a freighter to Europe
usually took the car
he takes airplanes, but his wife won't fly — Philip Hamburger
insisted on taking a taxi all the way — Christopher Isherwood
also : to go aboard or mount (as something providing such transportation) : board
always took the train at the main station
had taken horse and ridden into the fields — J.H.Wheelwright
just before I took ship at New York for Sweden — Sinclair Lewis
takes the train every morning at 6:45
c. : to have recourse to (as a place) especially for safety or refuge
take shelter
take sanctuary
take harbor
had one look at the bear and then took the nearest tree
could often take refuge from his humiliation in a sort of dignity — Elizabeth Bowen
take cover behind prejudices and theories — Roger Fry
d. : to enter upon or into in order to go along or through
wished he could take a paved road
every single plane … fit to take the air — Ira Wolfert
readying the boat to take the water
e.
(1) : to proceed to occupy (as a place or position)
take a seat in the rear
took the nearest chair
took his place in the procession
was unwilling to take the center of the stage
always ready to take the spotlight
took the chair in the absence of the regular chairman
(2) : to use up (as space by filling or time by consuming)
take enough time to be sure
doesn't take much room
took a long time to dry out
(3) : need , require
takes a size nine shoe
job took more attention than he could give
took two men to keep the tub filled — H.A.Chippendale
a good long letter ( took two postage stamps) — Walt Whitman
took the baroque age to invent, and to respect, the … periwig — Gilbert Highet
getting to the right place at the right time … takes a bit of doing — Nevil Shute
11.
a. : to obtain by deriving from a source : draw
takes its title from the name of the hero
family probably took its name from the place where it lived
took his design from natural rock formations
takes his good looks from his mother
took his text from the Old Testament
took his subject from his own experience
as
(1) : to extract and use over again (as for quoting or adapting) : borrow
took his plot from an old folk tale
retorted with a line taken verbatim from Shakespeare
our habit of taking words from other languages — Thomas Pyles
(2) : to obtain from a natural source
coal used is imported … while the limestone is taken from the company's own quarries — N.R.Heiden
b.
(1) : to obtain as the result of a special procedure (as of observation, examination, or inquiry) : ascertain
take the temperature
take the dimensions of a room
tailor took his measurements
take a census
took the opinion of the group
also : to carry out (a procedure yielding such a result) : conduct
take an observation of the sun
take a test of its efficiency
take a poll
take a vote
(2) : to get in writing : write down
take notes
take the attendance
take minutes of a meeting
take an inventory
take a copy of a will
— often used with down
take down a speech in shorthand
took down the principal points
sent for a stenographer to take down his confession
(3) : to get by drawing or painting or especially by photography : make or execute a picture of : represent or portray in any artistic form ; especially : to make a photograph of : photograph
likes to take pictures
take a snapshot
took the children in their party clothes
(4) : to get by transference from one surface to another (as by means of ink)
take a proof
take a person's fingerprints
take rubbings of ancient brasses
worked out a way of taking the carved impression from the stone — Roger Burlingame
12. : to receive or accept whether willingly or reluctantly (as something given, offered, proposed, or administered)
wouldn't take my hand when I offered it
taught her not to take candy from strangers
took the present but didn't seem pleased with it
wouldn't take no for an answer
take a bribe
take a bet
was told to take it or leave it
shipped it through the Canal and I took delivery on it here this afternoon — Robert Carson
as
a. : to receive when bestowed or tendered (as an office, an honor, a degree, a prize)
was on hand to take an honorary doctorate
has been trained to take salutes on state occasions — Star Weekly
b.
(1) : to submit to : endure , undergo
took his punishment like a man
take a blow without flinching
is taking treatments
physician told him he ought to stay for six months and take the cure — College English
the mauling his corps took in the peach orchard — R.M.Lovett
seeing men die and taking three wounds in his own body — Dixon Wecter
: put up with
don't have to take anything from him, or to stand his bad manners — Willa Cather
after taking twenty years of living in these cramped quarters — Henry Hewes
— often used with it
for people who can take it like pioneers, here is a new frontier — W.P.Webb
she deserved the accolade of the modern generation — she could take it — New Republic
(2) : to undergo without yielding : resist successfully : withstand
takes hard usage
specifications may require the glass … to take an impact blow of 6 to 9 ft. lbs. — E.B.Shand
takes extremes of weather beautifully
c.
(1) : to accept as true : believe
had to take his word for it
you can take it from me that he is not here
(2) : to accept for guidance : follow
take a warning
take a hint
take a suggestion
please take my advice
(3) : to accept with the mind in a specified way
take a situation calmly
took the joke in earnest
took it ill of them
would take it kindly if we could answer at once
(4) : to accept without objection or opposition
take things as they come
ready to take the consequences of his act
take the bad along with the good
d. : to indulge in and enjoy
was taking his ease on the porch
hoped to be able to take a brief vacation
took a five-minute break for coffee
time to take a rest
e. : to receive or accept as a return (as in payment, compensation, or reparation)
agreed to take a thousand dollars in complete settlement of the claim
wouldn't take less than a hundred a week
wants more but would probably take less
f.
(1) obsolete : to exact (as a promise or an oath) of another
(2) : to accept the tender of (as a promise or an oath)
(3) : to accept (as an oath, an affidavit, or a deposition) in a legal capacity (as by administering or witnessing)
g. : to admit (a male animal) in copulation : be covered by
h. : to respond to (bait or a lure) by seizing
bonefish will take a fly during a strong wind — R.R.Camp
taking feathered lures and spinning stuff — Sports Illustrated
i. : to accept a bet offered by
ready to take all comers
j. : to deliberately make no attempt to hit (a pitched ball)
manager signaled him to take the next pitch
13.
a.
(1) : to permit to enter : let in : admit
liable to take a great deal of water over the bow in bad weather — D.W.Pye
seams had opened and the boat was taking water fast
(2) : to have room for : accommodate
shelf just takes the books
harbor is so badly silted it can take only small craft — Christopher Rand
suitcase wouldn't take another thing
runway … long enough to take any of the biggest airliners of tomorrow — A.J.Cathrein
largest canals take barges of more than a thousand tons — Alice Mutton
b. : to be affected injuriously by (as a disease) : catch , contract
take cold
took the measles
one of the sorrels took colic and died — J.F.Dobie
their liability to take the blight — H.E.Laffer
: be seized by
take a fit
take fright
c. : to absorb or become impregnated with (as dye) : be affected by (as polish)
cloth that takes dye well
surface will not take paint
granite takes a high polish
won't take a shine, no matter how long you wear it — Clarence Woodbury
d. : to receive into itself:
(1) obsolete : contain , include
(2) Scotland : to close in upon and submerge
giantess who was so big the Sound of Mull took her only knee-deep — Alastair Borthwick
14.
a.
(1) : to receive into the mind : apprehend , comprehend , understand
his hearers were slow to take his meaning
object of the writer will be … to make the reader take his meaning readily and precisely — Ernest Gowers
event was so unusual and unexpected that we did not know how to take it — R.M.Lovett
take a remark as it was intended
(2) : to apprehend the meaning of (a person)
if I take you correctly
in the other scenes we have no difficulty in taking him as we are meant to take him — F.R.Leavis
b. : to regard or look upon : consider , suppose
we take this to be your final offer
take it as settled
I take it that you approve
hoped he would not be taken as absolutely committed
does not wish people to take his fictions as novels — Carlos Lynes
the type taken as normal in English political writing — D.W.Brogan
canon law may be taken to include theology — H.O.Taylor
do not take me as urging that it ought to be done — F.S.Mitchell
c. : to accept, consider, or reckon as being or as equal to
taking a stride at the usual 30 inches
reports by … untrained observers are all taken at a hundred percent of their face value — M.R.Cohen
d. : to feel or begin to feel or experience (as a state of mind)
take pleasure
took delight in perversity — G.W.Brace
took an immediate dislike to the newcomer
saw no reason to take offense
take a little reasonable umbrage — C.E.Montague
takes satisfaction in inertly orthodox generalities — F.R.Leavis
took pride in his work
nurse their griefs … seem, in fact, almost to take a delight in brooding over them — H.A.Overstreet
e.
(1) : to form and adopt in the mind or with the will
take a resolution
take a grave view of a situation
was here that the real decisions on policy were taken — J.H.Plumb
whenever he took a notion he wanted something, he bought it — Margaret Cousins
taking harsh judgments of his contemporaries — S.L.A.Marshall
(2) : to form with the mind or will and exercise or display in action
takes pity on all suffering creatures
had taken no further heed of her existence — W.J.Locke
15.
a. : to convey, lead, carry, remove, or cause to go along to another place, the direction of movement being away from the place from which the action is regarded: as
(1) : to cause (as a person) to go along with one to a place
take the baby to the park
took his girl to the prom
promised to take the whole family to dinner
this bus will take you into town
also : lead
this line takes us directly to the city
fine road takes you through the forest — Tom Marvel
to climb it would take us in the wrong direction — D.L.Busk
(2) : to bear with one to a place or person
take your father's slippers to him
take the dishes to the kitchen
took a plentiful lunch with them but brought most of it back
(3) : to require or induce to go
business took him west
an appointment that took him into town
neighbor whose employment takes him on periodic trips across the country — Sidney Alexander
b. : to lead, convey, or remove in thought or mind
seeking interests that would take him out of himself
journey took his mind away from his troubles
c. : to convey to a higher or lower degree
last-minute touchdown took the score to 57
heavy selling in the afternoon took the list lower
d. archaic : to give (oneself) up or over : betake , commit , devote
16.
a. : to remove or obtain by removing : abstract
take eggs from a nest
take the cream off the milk
you can take a cork out of one of those bottles
b.
(1) : to put an end to (as life or one's life)
the right of the state to take human life
took his own life in a fit of despondency
(2) : to remove by death : deprive of life : cause to die
was taken in his prime
those who have been taken hence
a mother whose only child had recently been taken
a cruel fate took him from us
c.
(1) : deduct , subtract
take two from four
took ten percent off the bill for cash
celebrates his fiftieth birthday, give or take a few months, with this selection — Carlos Baker
(2) : to carry away : withdraw
never took his eyes from hers
gave him kicks that took the laugh off his face — Claud Cockburn
17. : to undertake and make (as a movement) or do or perform (as an act or an action)
take a walk
take a look
take aim
take a trip
take a turn around the block
take two steps forward
stopped two or three times to take a sounding — Nevil Shute
able to take such action by air, naval, or land forces as may be necessary — Vera M. Dean
as
a. : to direct and make a specified motion (as a blow)
took a swing at a policeman
tested the pillow by taking a poke at it
b. : to set in motion (as a lawsuit) : institute
take proceedings
take legal action
c. : to put or set forth : raise
take an objection
be fired … if an important reader or advertiser took exception to something he said — Phoenix Flame
might take exception to his representative having a meal with casteless persons — Dillon Ripley
d. : bid , say
take adieu
take a last farewell
18. archaic : to assume or resume (as a discourse) at a point of leaving off
19.
a. : to apply oneself to and treat or deal with
take first things first
doctor was sure he had taken the disease in time
take the problems one by one
next let us take the Peloponnesian War
if he be summoned to court, his case is taken in a language he does not understand — Stuart Cloete
b.
(1) : to deal with, consider, or view in a particular relation
taken together, the details were quite significant
taking one thing with another, decided they had not done badly
(2) : to consider as an instance
to illustrate, take ancient Greece
c. : to apply oneself to the study of or the acquisition of skill in
take fancy dancing
take music lessons
specifically : to study (as a subject or course) at an educational institution
took English 21 last year
is taking both French and German
20. : to apply oneself to getting through or past or to surmounting (as a hedge or a hurdle) : succeed in clearing (as a difficulty or an obstacle)
take two stairs at a time
took the corner on two wheels
was taking fences at the age of six
took the puddle in an easy leap
took an exit at three times the posted limit — Hugh Sherwood
sort of hill which any car can take with ease — F.G.Kay
21. : to impose upon : cheat , swindle
how can the amateur collector be sure he isn't being taken — New Orleans (La.) Times-Picayune
taken for over a hundred thousand dollars on shakedowns alone — F.B.Gipson
girl who would take me for a lot of money — Merle Miller
I. ˈtāk intransitive verb
1. : to obtain possession: as
a. : capture
the queen in chess takes at any distance in a straight line
the symbol x, read “ takes ”, indicates a capture — New Complete Hoyle
b. : to receive property under law as one's own : receive the title to property
he takes as heir
was entitled, as a society with a lawful object, to take under a charitable bequest — Eduard Jenks
c. of a fish : to seize a lure or bait : rise to bait : bite
salmon took that morning, though halfheartedly — B.A.Williams
will take in clear water
tench, who stop taking soon after breakfast — T.H.White b. 1906
2. : to lay hold : catch , engage , hold
high-velocity harpoon is fired. If this strikes and takes, an explosive charge goes off inside the animal's rib cage — I.T.Sanderson
3.
a. : to establish a take especially by uniting or growing — used of living things (as plant or surgical grafts)
with an experienced surgeon some 90 percent of the grafts take — Lancet
b. : strike 17a
4.
a.
(1) : to betake oneself : strike out : set out : go , proceed
take after a purse snatcher
take down the street and around the corner
take across a field
take over the hill
(2) chiefly dialect : to take its course or run or lead (as of a road or river)
road turns here and takes over the hill
b. chiefly dialect — used as an intensifier or often simply redundantly with a following verb
took and swung at the ball but missed
took and grabbed his hat and ran
took and cried everytime anybody looked at her
— compare go
5.
a. : to have the natural or intended effect or action : take effect : act , operate
an expensive lesson in caution; it could only be hoped that it would take
as
(1) : to catch hold : get hold
wick was dry and the sparks didn't take
(2) of a plan : to work out or turn out successfully : succeed
fanciful schemes without a chance of taking
where retirements are often announced but seldom take — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
(3) of a vaccine or vaccination : to produce a take
b. : to show the natural or intended effect (as of fire or cold) : become affected (as by adherence or absorption) in the expected or desired way
dry fuel takes readily
had never taken after his first vaccination
6. : charm , captivate :
a. : to exert a spell
no planets strike, no fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm — Shakespeare
b. : to prove taking or attractive : gain a favorable reception : win popular favor
the play took greatly and was still drawing big audiences — W.A.Darlington
book had not yet taken with the general reader
7. : detract — used with from
a few minor irritations that took only slightly from their general satisfaction
8. : to be or admit of being affected: as
a. : to be seized or attacked in a specified way : become , fall
died suddenly in 1820, taking ill on his way home — Isobel Hutchison
took sick
took pretty surly — Punch
b. : to be capable of being moved in a specified way : come
top takes off
toy clock with varicolored plastic works that take apart for reassembly by the child
table takes apart for packing
gadget takes to pieces for cleaning
c. : to adhere or become absorbed
ink that takes well on cloth
d. : to admit of being photographed
colors that take well
takes best highlighted against a dark background
Synonyms:
seize , grasp , clutch , snatch , grab : take is a general term without very specific connotation and applicable to the notion of coming to hold or possess, momentarily or longer, by physical action of the hand or in any other way
take the book from the shelf
a city taken by the enemy
take a cottage for the summer
seize suggests sudden and forcible taking, often the taking or apprehending of something elusive or difficult by quick, opportune action
they seize all the cattle and other property left behind by the fugitives in their haste — J.G.Frazer
the Breton seized more than he could hold; the Norman took less than he would have liked — Henry Adams
the character … is difficult to seize, for it comprised qualities hardly ever combined in one man — Hilaire Belloc
grasp implies a firm quick laying hold and tightening fingers around, a taking or seizing likened to such an action, or a similar effective comprehension
she grasped him by the arm, driving her fingers deep into the flesh — R.P.Warren
determined to grasp all they could for Pennsylvania, Colonial officials tricked the Indians — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
understood the words I heard, but couldn't seem to grasp their meaning — Kenneth Roberts
clutch may suggest increased suddenness, force, or firmness in taking hold, apprehending, or attempting to take hold
with an agonized cry, she clutches his shoulders and drags herself to her feet — G.B.Shaw
straws were straws, and the frailer they were the harder she clutched them — George Meredith
flung himself forward with the others, desperately clutching at the precious escaping fish — A.J.Cronin
snatch stresses suddenness of motion without indicating a forceful retention and may suggest stealthy or ready promptness in action
many too are killed by their stronger companions in their desperate attempts to snatch their share of food — James Stevenson-Hamilton
tried to keep hold of the plate which the school teacher tried to snatch away and for a few minutes they struggled laughing — Sherwood Anderson
grab typically suggests rude rough forceful action, often in indifference to or violation of the rights of others
could apparently grab Silesia by force of arms — Stringfellow Barr
the more adventurous hastened to California with a pocketful of paper to grab rich mineral and timber lands — American Guide Series: Minnesota
Synonym: see in addition attract , receive .
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- take a bow
- take account of
- take a chance
- take a dare
- take a dive
- take advantage of
- take after
- take against
- take a joke
- take alarm
- take amiss
- take apart
- take a powder
- take a reef
- take arms
- take breath
- take care
- take care of
- take charge
- take counsel
- take croquet
- take effect
- take example
- take fire
- take five
- take for
- take from the table
- take guard
- take heart
- take hold
- take into account
- take into camp
- take into one's head
- take in vain
- take issue
- take it in snuff
- take it on the chin
- take it or leave it
- take it out of
- take kindly to
- take lying down
- take notice
- take notice of
- take oath
- take one at one's word
- take one's death
- take one's life in one's hands
- take one's medicine
- take one's time
- take order
- take orders
- take or leave
- take part
- take place
- take possession
- take root
- take shape
- take silk
- take stage
- take the bull by the horns
- take the cake
- take the count
- take the cross
- take the field
- take the floor
- take the road
- take the rue
- take the wind out of one's sails
- take the word
- take the words out of one's mouth
- take time by the forelock
- take to
- take to one's heels
- take to task
- take wake
- take water
- take with
II. ˈtāk noun
( -s )
1. : an act or the action of taking (as by seizing, accepting, or otherwise coming into possession): as
a. : an act or the action of killing, capturing, or catching (as game or fish)
the hunting take and other causes of mortality to pheasant eggs — Sports Illustrated
b. chiefly Britain : the action of leasing land (as for farming or mining)
c. : an action of accepting something (as by way of compromise) — compare give-and-take
d.
(1) : the capture of a chessman
(2) : a position in which capture can be made — used with on
White has left his queen on take
e.
(1) : the uninterrupted photographing or televising of a single scene or part of a scene
(2) : the making of a sound recording
session opened with the second take of the first part of the concerto — Murray Schumach
2. : something that is taken:
a. : the amount of money received (as from a business venture, a sale, an admission charge, an enforced contribution): as
(1) : the sum total taken in especially from particular sources
was fixing to increase the state's take on mutuel betting — J.G.Forrest
the farmer's take last year
the tax take
take has lagged behind the increased outgo — Harlow Shapley
a box-office take which yearly declined — Kaspar Monahan
the 1956 take from tourism — Newsweek
crowds became larger, and the take greater — Carey McWilliams
(2) : a percentage of total receipts deducted or reserved (as the amount of a racing bet deducted by the state and the track owners) : cut
gambling take helps pay for the state's roads — Jack Goodman
2.17 percent, the syndicate's net take on the issue — John Brooks
(3) : a criminal's haul
b. : the number or quantity (as of animals, fish, or pelts) taken at one time : catch , haul
a catch of four cows and an oil take of more than a hundred barrels — H.A.Chippendale
yearly take of cottontail rabbits … runs into the millions — American Guide Series: Michigan
c.
(1) chiefly Britain : a piece of land taken by lease : holding
(2) : oil taken or bought from a lease
d.
(1) : an installment of copy given to a compositor for typesetting ; especially : a section of a running newspaper or wire service story sent to the pressroom in sections
(2) : the type set from such copy
e.
(1) : a passage to be taken down or an amount taken down at one time (as in shorthand) or transcribed (as on a typewriter)
the high-speed takes in this course have been taken from the Congressional Record — C.I.Blanchard & C.E.Zoubek
(2) : a section or installment (as of an article, a speech) arbitrarily chosen (as for convenience in reading, recording, translation)
prepared speech, translated in short takes — W.V.Shannon
an informal anthology in short takes — William Miller
might be wisest to read them in short takes — New Yorker
f.
(1) : a scene or part of a scene filmed or televised at one time without stopping the camera and with or without a sound recording
usually a cutter receives hundreds of takes of scenes — Andrew Buchanan
also : the photography of a scene sequence identified by photographing a scene number on a take board
(2) : a sound recording made during a single recording period usually seven or eight minutes in length
hundreds of feet of tape contain dozens of takes — New York Times
often : a trial recording
3.
a. : something that takes effect: as
(1) obsolete : a magic spell
(2) : taking quality : charm
b. : something (as a play or song) that becomes popular
4. : an action or a result of taking effect:
a. : reaction of vaccinia indicating successful introduction of virus into the skin and its multiplication
should be vaccinated again and again, if necessary, until there is a take — Benjamin Spock
b. : a successful union (as of a graft)
skin grafting … resulted in a complete take — Science News Letter
5. : an act or the action of taking something in mentally (as by a show of understanding) : reaction , response
gave my name to the uniformed maid — whose take , as I announced myself, was something to behold — Polly Adler
the lovable baby with the big feet and the slow take — Robert Hatch
no stage gasp or actor's take — Otis Ferguson
would strike the committee, in a giant delayed take — Russell Maloney
— compare double take
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- on the take
IV. verb
or take a walk
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- take a bath
- take a hike
- take a position
- take no prisoners
- take the mickey
- take the mickey out of
V. noun
: 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
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- on the take