take up
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.take up
verbDefinition of TAKE UP
transitive verb2
a : to begin to occupy (land) b : to gather from a number of sources <took up a collection>
3
a : to accept or adopt for the purpose of assisting b : to accept or adopt as one's own <took up the life of a farmer> c : to absorb or incorporate into itself <plants taking up nutrients>
4
a : to enter upon (as a business, hobby, or subject of study) <take up skiing> <took up the trumpet> b : to proceed to consider or deal with <take up one problem at a time>
5
: to establish oneself in <took up residence in town>
6
: to occupy entirely or exclusively : fill up <the meeting was taken up with old business>
7
: to make tighter or shorter <take up the slack>
8
: to respond favorably to (as a person offering a bet, challenge, or proposal) <took me up on it>
9
: to begin again or take over from another <we must take the good work up again>
intransitive verb
1
: to make a beginning where another has left off
2
: to become shortened : draw together : shrink
— take up the cudgels
: to engage vigorously in a defense or dispute
— take up with
1
: to become interested or absorbed in
2
: to begin to associate or consort with
See Examples of TAKE UP
- <please take up the blanket so I can look underneath it>
- <the soil was so dry that the plant seemed to take up the much-needed water instantly>
First Known Use of TAKE UP
14th century
Related to TAKE UP
take up
transitive verb (Medical Dictionary)Medical Definition of TAKE UP
: to absorb or incorporate into itself <the rate at which the cells took up glucose>
—take–up noun
Learn More About TAKE UP
Browse
Seen & Heard 
What made you want to look up take up? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
