Main Entry: ¹take

Pronunciation: \ˈtāk\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): 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 <takes dinner about seven>
5 a : to bring or receive into a relation or connection <takes 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) <takes a long time to dry> (3) : need, require <takes a size nine shoe> <it takes two to start a fight>
11 a : to obtain by deriving from a source : draw <takes 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 takes 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 takes 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 : to have or assume a secondary position or status

— take a bath : to suffer a heavy financial loss

— take account of : to take into account

— take advantage of 1 : to use to advantage : profit by
2 : to impose on : exploit; also : to exploit sexually

— take after : to resemble in features, build, character, or disposition

— take a hike also take a walk : to go away : leave

— take aim at : target 1 <new legislation that takes aim at crime>

— take apart 1 : to disconnect the pieces of : disassemble
2 : to treat roughly or harshly : tear into

— take a powder : to leave hurriedly

— take care : to be careful or watchful : exercise caution or prudence

— take care of : to attend to or provide for the needs, operation, or treatment of

— take charge : to assume care, custody, command, or control

— take effect 1 : to become operative
2 : to be effective

— take exception : object <took exception to the remark>

— take five or take ten : to take a break especially from work

— take for : to suppose to be; especially : to suppose mistakenly to be

— take for a ride : trick, cheat

— take for granted 1 : to assume as true, real, or expected
2 : to value too lightly

— take heart : to gain courage or confidence

— take hold 1 : grasp, grip, seize
2 : to become attached or established : take effect

— take into account : to make allowance for

— take in vain : to use (a name) profanely or without proper respect

— take issue : disagree

— take it on the chin : to suffer from the results of a situation

— take kindly to : to show an inclination to accept or approve

— take no prisoners : to be merciless or relentless (as in exploiting an advantage) <a politician who takes no prisoners>

— take notice of : to observe or treat with special attention

— take one's time : to be leisurely about doing something

— take part : join, participate, share

— take place : happen, occur

— take root 1 : to become rooted
2 : to become fixed or established

— take shape : to assume a definite or distinctive form

— take ship : set out on a voyage by ship

— take the cake : to carry off the prize : rank first

— take the count 1 of a boxer : to be counted out
2 : to go down in defeat

— take the floor : to rise (as in a meeting or a legislative assembly) to make a formal address

— take the mickey British : joke, kid

— take the mickey out of British : to make fun of : tease

— take the plunge : to do or undertake something decisively especially after a period of hesitation or uncertainty

— take to 1 : to go to or into <take to the woods>
2 : to apply or devote oneself to (as a practice, habit, or occupation) <take to begging>
3 : to adapt oneself to : respond to <takes to water like a duck>
4 : to conceive a liking for

— take to court : to bring before a judicial body; especially : sue 3

— take to task : to call to account for a shortcoming : criticize

— take to the cleaners : to deprive of money or possessons : clean out

— take turns : alternate

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>.