Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - take

~1 v past tense took past participle taken MOVE STH 1 to move someone or something from one place to another  (Don't forget to take your bag when you go. | Paul doesn't know the way - can you take him? | take sb/sth to)  (We take the kids to school in the car. | Our neighbor was taken away in a police car. | Take the car to the garage to be repaired. | take sb sth)  (Take your mother a cup of tea. | take sb/sth with you)  (I'll take the dogs with me when I go to the lake.)  (- see bring) DO SOMETHING 2 a word meaning to do something, used with many different nouns to form a phrase that means `do the actions connected with the nouns'  (take a walk | take a bath | take a breath | take a vacation) NEED STH 3 take (sb) 2 hours/6 months etc to need a particular amount of time to do something or for something to happen  (The journey takes three hours. | take 2 hours/6 months etc to do sth)  (It took three hours to fix the washing machine. | It took us half an hour to get there.) 4 »NEED MONEY/EFFORT/A QUALITY« to need a particular quality, amount of money, or effort, in order for you to do something or for something to happen  (It takes strength and stamina to be a long-distance runner. | it takes sth to do sth)  (It took a lot of courage to admit you were wrong) 5 »STH NEEDS STH« if a machine, vehicle etc takes a particular kind of petrol, battery (1) etc, you have to use that in it  (The car only takes unleaded..) 6 have what it takes informal to have the qualities needed to be successful  (Neil's got what it takes to be a great footballer.) SCHOOL/EXAMS 7 »STUDY STH IN SCHOOL« to study a particular subject in a school or college, in order to do an examination  (I only had to take 6 credits my senior year) 8 »TEACH« BrE to teach a particular group of students in a school or college  (take sb for sth)  (Who takes you for French?) 9 take an exam/test to do an examination or test  (I had to take my driving test three times before I passed.) GET SOMETHING IN YOUR POSSESSION 10 »STEAL« to steal something, or borrow something without someone's permission  (The burglars took most of our jewellery. | She's taken my pen.)  (- see steal1) 11 »GET CONTROL« to get possession or control of something  (Enemy forces have taken the airport. | take control/charge)  (Ann took control of the division last month.) 12 »GET STH« to get something for yourself  (Jim took all the credit, even though he hadn't done much of the work.) 13 take a seat to sit down 14 take the lead to take the leading position in a race, competition etc 15 »HOLD STH« to get hold of something in your hands  (Let me take your jacket. | She took my arm as we walked down the street.) TAKE PART 16 take part to do an activity, sport etc with other people  (Greg was too sick to take part. | take part in sth)  (She was invited to take part in a TV debate.) TAKE PLACE 17 take place if an event takes place, it happens  (The contest takes place every four years. | We don't know exactly what took place, but they both looked furious afterward.)  (- see occur) ACCEPT SOMETHING 18 a) to accept something that someone offers you  (If I were you I'd take the job. | take it or leave it spoken (=used to say that your offer will not change))  (I'll give you -50 - take it or leave it. | take sb's advice)  (I took your advice and went to the doctor's.) b) to be willing to accept that something is true and correct  (I refuse to take the blame. | Do they take credit cards in this shop? | take sb's word for it (=accept that what someone says is true))  (Don't take my word for it if you don't want - go back and see for yourself!) 19 take sth as read to accept that something is correct because you have no other choice  (We can take it as read that Judith will want to come) 20 »ACCEPT STH UNPLEASANT« informal to accept an unpleasant situation or someone's unpleasant behaviour without becoming upset  (I can't take any more of his lies and deceit. | Steve's tough - He can take it | hard to take)  (All this uncertainty is really very hard to take.) 21 »SUFFER STH« to experience something unpleasant because you cannot avoid it  (Staff have agreed to take a 2% pay cut.) »SPOKEN PHRASES« 22 take sb/sth (for example) used when you want to give an example of something you have just been talking about  (You don't need loads of qualifications - take me for example, I failed my exams, but still found a job.) 23 I take it (that) used to say that you expect someone will do something, know something etc  (I take it you've heard that Rick's resigned.) 24 I take your point used when you are accepting that what someone has said is true  (Mr Chairman, I take your point, but I also support Mr Baxter's view.) 25 take it from me used to persuade someone that what you are saying is true  (Ken won't last long in this job, take it from me.) 26 take a hike especially AmE used to tell someone to go away  (Look, Buddy, I'm tired of your mouth. Why don't you take a hike.) 27 it takes all sorts (to make a world) used to show that you think what someone is doing, likes etc is very strange 28 what do you take me for? used when someone has suggested you would do something and you want to say you would not do anything like that  (I won't tell her the secret - what do you take me for?) »OTHER MEANINGS« 29 »NUMBERS« to subtract one number from another number  (take something from)  (Take four from nine and what do you get?) 30 »HAVE SPACE FOR« T not in progressive or passive) to have only enough space to contain a particular amount of something, or a particular number of things  (The car takes five people. | The shelf won't take any more books.) 31 »MEDICINE/DRUG« to take a drug into your body  (Do you want to take an aspirin for your headache? | take drugs (=take illegal drugs)) 32 take sides to support one person more than another person in an argument  (You always take sides with Maggie without even listening to me!) 33 be taken with/by to be attracted by a particular idea, plan or person  (I'm quite taken by the idea of Christmas in Berlin.) 34 be taken ill/sick etc to suddenly become ill 35 »SEX« literary if a man takes a woman, he has sex with her 36 »EAT/DRINK« used in some phrases meaning to eat or drink something  (do you take sugar (=do you take sugar in your tea or coffee)) 37 »TAXI/BUS/TRAIN ETC« to go somewhere by taxi, bus, or train  (We were too exhausted to walk so we took the bus.) 38 »FEELINGS« to have or experience a particular feeling, used in some phrases  (Lin takes no interest in her work. | take pity on (=help someone that you feel pity for))  (that nice young man who took pity on me and helped me with my bags | take offence (=feel offended by something))  (Don't take offence. Roger says things like that to everybody.) 39 take a picture/photograph to photograph someone or something + of  (I took several pictures of the cottage we stayed in.) 40 »WRITE« to write down information that you have just been given  (Don't let me forget to take your address before you leave. | It might be a good idea to take notes during the lecture.) 41 take sth seriously/lightly to consider someone or something in a particular way  (It's not the kind of comment you take lightly, is it? | I always take you seriously, don't I?) 42 take sth well/badly to react well or badly when you find something out  ("How did she take it when you told her?" "Er, not too well.") 43 »TEST/MEASURE STH« to test or measure something  (He took my temperature and blood pressure.) 44 take sth to bits/pieces to divide something into its separate parts  (We had to take the radio to pieces to find out what was wrong with it.) 45 take a bend/fence/corner etc to try to get over or around something in a particular way  (We took the bend at over 60 and lost control.) 46 »SIZE« to wear a particular size of clothes or shoes  (I take size 6 shoes.) 47 »STH WORKS« if a dye (=colouring substance) or injection (=medicine) takes, it is successful PHRASAL VERBS take aback phr v be taken aback to be very surprised about something  (He seemed quite taken aback by the news.) take after sb phr v to look or behave like an older relative  (Jenni really takes after her mother.) take sb/sth apart phr v 1 to separate something into pieces; dismantle 2 a) to beat someone very easily in a game or sport b) to criticize someone very strongly take away from sth phr v to harm the good effect or success of something; detract  (We won't allow a few troublemakers to take away from our enjoyment of the occasion) take back phr v 1 (take something back) to admit that you were wrong to say something  (I'm sorry I was rude, I take it all back.) 2 (take something back) to take something you have bought back to a shop because it is not suitable  (If the shirt doesn't fit, take it back.) 3 (take someone back) to make you remember a time in the past  (Seeing those old pictures really took me back.) take sth down phr v 1 to separate a large structure or machine into pieces  (They're taking the scaffolding down next week.) 2 to write something down  (Let me take down your name and number.) 3 to lower your trousers, shorts short3 (2) etc without actually removing them take in phr v 1 »PERSON« (take someone in) to let someone stay in your house, especially because they have nowhere else to stay  (Brett's always taking in stray animals.) 2 »INCLUDE« (take something in) if a price or cost takes in something it includes it  (This price takes in the cost of all the accommodation and food.) 3 take in a movie/show etc AmE to go to see a film, play 4 »CLOTHES« (take something in) to make a piece of clothing narrower so that it fits you  (- opposite let out let1 (4)) 5 »UNDERSTAND/REMEMBER STH« (take something in) to understand and remember new facts and information  (I told Grandpa we were going away, but I don't think he took it in.) 6 be taken in to be completely deceived by someone so that you believe a lie  (Don't be taken in by products claiming to help you lose weight in a week.) take off phr v 1 »REMOVE STH« T take something off) to remove something, especially a piece of clothing  (Take your coat off. | I forgot to take off my make-up last night.)  (- opposite put on) 2 »AIRCRAFT/SPACECRAFT« to rise into the air at the beginning of a flight  (As the plane was taking off, I remembered I hadn't turned the iron off.) 3 »COPY SB« T take someone off) informal to copy the way someone speaks or behaves, in order to entertain people 4 »HOLIDAY« T take something off) to have a holiday from work on a particular day, or for a particular length of time  (I'm taking Thursday off to do some Christmas shopping.) 5 »SUCCESS« to suddenly start being successful  (I hear the business is really taking off.) 6 »LEAVE A PLACE« informal to leave somewhere suddenly, especially without telling anyone  (Clare just took off without saying goodbye.) take on phr v  (take someone on) to start to employ someone  (We're taking on 50 new staff this year.)  (- see hire1) take out phr v 1 »PERSON« T take someone out) to take someone to a restaurant, cinema, club etc  (We're taking my folks out for a meal next week.) 2 »GET STH« (take something out) to arrange to get something officially, especially from an insurance company or a court of law  (I'm thinking of taking out a life insurance policy. | They've taken out an ad in the local paper.) 3 take it out of sb to make someone feel very tired  (Having the flu really takes it out of you!) 4 »KILL/DESTROY« (take someone/something out) informal to kill someone, or destroy something  (The building was completely taken out by a bomb.) 5 take sb out of themselves to make someone feel less worried about their problems take sth out on sb phr v take it out on sb to make someone suffer because you are feeling angry, tired etc  (Don't take it out on me, it's not my fault you've had a bad day.) take over phr v to take control of something  (Who will take over now that Ewing has resigned? | take sth over)  (Will you take over the driving when we reach Madison.)  (- see also takeover) take to sb/sth phr v T not inpassive) 1 to start to like someone or something  (I took to Paul as soon as I met him.) 2 to start doing something as a habit  (All this bad news is enough to make you take to drink. | take to doing sth)  (Dee's taken to getting up at 6 and going jogging.) 3 take to your bed to go to your bed and stay there take up sth phr v 1 »ACTIVITY/SUBJECT« T take up something) to become interested in a particular activity or subject and spend time doing it  (Glenn has taken up pottery.) 2 »JOB/RESPONSIBILITY« (take up something) to start a new job or have a new responsibility  (She took up her first teaching post in 1950.) 3 »POSITION« (take up something) to put yourself in a particular position ready for something to happen, or so that you can see better  (The runners took up their positions on the starting line.) 4 »IDEA/SUGGESTION/SUBJECT« (take something up) to do something about an idea or suggestion that you have been considering  (I'm going to take this matter up with my lawyer.) 5 »OFFER« (take something up) to accept an offer or challenge1 (1) that someone has made  (Are you going to take up the challenge of lasting a whole week without arguing?) 6 »SPACE/TIME« if something takes up a particular amount of time or space it fills it  (Writing the paper took up most of the weekend. | Your clutter takes up far too much space.) 7 take up arms to fight a battle using weapons 8 take up residence to start living somewhere 9 »CLOTHES« (take something up) to reduce the length of a skirt or pair of trousers 10 »CONTINUE AN ACTIVITY« (take something up) to continue a story or activity that someone else started, or that you have started but had to stop  (I'll take up the story where you left off.) take sb up on sth phr v to accept an invitation that someone has made  (I'll take you up on that offer of a drink, if it still stands!) take up with sb/sth phr v 1 to become friendly with someone, especially someone who may influence you badly  (Sean's taken up with a bunch of lazy hoods.) 2 be taken up with to be very busy dealing with someone or something  (Jo's completely taken up with work at the moment.) take upon phr v ~2 n 1 the act of a scene for a film or television programme  (We had to do six takes for this particular scene.) 2 usually singular) the amount of fish or animals caught at one particular time 3 usually singular) informal especially AmE the amount of money earned by a shop or business in a particular period of time 4 be on the take informal to be willing to do something wrong in return for money 5 sb's take on sth AmE informal someone's opinion about a situation or idea  (What's your take on the Middle East issue?)