v.
(past took; past part. taken)
- reach for and hold with one's hands.
- carry or bring with one; convey or guide.
▸remove from a place.
▸subtract.
- accept or receive.
▸understand or accept as valid.
▸submit to, tolerate, or endure.
▸buy, rent, or subscribe to.
- bring into a specified state:
the invasion took Europe to the brink of war.
▸acquire or assume (a position, state, or form).
▸regard or deal with in a specified way.
▸
(take it)
assume.
▸have sex with.
- experience or be affected by.
▸
(be taken by/with)
be attracted or charmed by.
▸(of illness) suddenly strike or afflict.
- make, undertake, or perform (an action or task).
▸act on (an opportunity).
▸ascertain by measurement or observation.
▸consume as food, drink, medicine, or drugs.
▸make (a photograph) with a camera.
▸be taught or examined in (a subject).
▸Brit. obtain (an academic degree) after fulfilling the required conditions.
- occupy (a place or position).
▸capture or gain possession of by force or military means.
- require or use up (a specified amount of time).
▸need or call for.
▸hold; accommodate.
▸wear or require (a particular size of garment).
▸Grammar have or require as part of the appropriate construction.
- use as a route or a means of transport.
- (of a plant or seed) take root or begin to grow; germinate.
▸(of an added substance) become successfully established.
n.
- a scene or sequence of sound or vision photographed or recorded continuously at one time.
▸a particular version or approach:
his own whimsical take on life.
- an amount gained or acquired from one source or in one session.
- Printing an amount of copy set up at one time or by one compositor.
Phrase
- be on the take
informal take bribes. - be taken ill
become ill suddenly. - have what it takes
informal have the necessary qualities for success. - take something as read
Brit. assume something. - take five
informal, chiefly N. Amer. have a short break. - take someone in hand
undertake to control or reform someone. - take something in hand
start dealing with a task. - take ill
(N. Amer. sick)
informal become ill suddenly. - take it on one
(or oneself)
to do something
decide to do something without asking for permission or advice. - take it out of
exhaust the strength of. - take that!
exclaimed when hitting someone or taking retributive action. - take one's time
not hurry.
Phrase verbal
Derivative
- takable
(also takeable)
adj.
- taker n.
Etymology
OE tacan ‘get (especially by force), capture’, from ON taka ‘grasp, lay hold of’, of unknown ultimate origin.