Main Entry: take up

Function: verb

Date: 14th century

transitive verb

1 : pick up, lift <took up the carpet>
2 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