Main Entry:

take on

Function:

verb

Date:

15th century

transitive verb

1 a: to begin to perform or deal with : undertake <took on new responsibilities> b: to contend with as an opponent <took on the neighborhood bully>2: engage, hire3 a: to assume or acquire as or as if one's own <the city's plaza takes on a carnival air — W. T. LeViness> b: to have as a mathematical domain or range <what values does the function take on>intransitive verb: to show one's feelings especially of grief or anger in a demonstrative way <she cried, and took on like a distracted body — Daniel Defoe>