- take
- I UK [teɪk] / US
verb
Word forms "take":
present tense I/you/we/they take he/she/it takes present participle taking past tense took UK [tʊk] / US past participle taken UK [ˈteɪkən] / US
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1) [transitive] to move something or someone from one place to anotherDon't forget to take an extra pair of shoes.
take someone to/into/around something:Remember to take a pen with you.
What time do you take Amy to school?
We took the plants into the greenhouse.
The cat had to be taken to the vet.
take someone/something along (= with you):Our guide took us around the cathedral.
take someone/something for something:On long journeys I always take my dog along.
take someone/something to do something:We took my mother for a drive in the country.
take someone something:We took him to catch his train.
take something to someone:Take Debbie this cup of coffee, will you?
Let's take the presents to them tonight.
See:bring2)a) [transitive] to cause someone to move somewheretake someone into/out of/up/through etc something:My old job took me into the city a lot.
The steps took us up to a cave in the cliff.
The journey will take you through some beautiful scenery.
b) to cause someone or something to be in a new position or conditionHer amazing energy has taken her to the top of her profession.
take someone to court:acts that took the country into war
take someone hostage/prisoner:They'll take us to court if we don't pay up soon.
Bank robbers took the manager hostage overnight.
3) [transitive] to perform a particular action or series of actionsTake a deep breath.
Tom took a sip of his drink.
I took a quick look at the audience.
take action/steps/measures:Let's take a walk down to the river.
take exercise:The government must take action to stop this trade.
You need to take more exercise.
4) [transitive] to need somethingtake some doing (= be very difficult to do):Your odd behaviour is going to take a bit of explaining.
It's going to take some doing to persuade them!
a) to need a particular thing in order for something to happentake something to do/be something:Admitting what she had done took a lot of courage.
It takes talent and dedication to become a top dancer.
have what it takes (= have the qualities that are necessary):It doesn't take much to start her crying.
Do you have what it takes to be a teacher?
b) to need a particular amount of time to happen or to do somethingIt'll take a while to sort this out.
take someone ten minutes/two hours etc:Our meeting took much longer than I expected.
The journey should take us about three days.
5) [transitive] to accept something that someone offers youI've decided not to take the job.
take (someone's) advice:Sorry, we don't take credit cards.
take it or leave it (= the offer will not change):She won't take my advice.
That's my final price, take it or leave it.
a) to accept an unpleasant situation or unpleasant treatment without complainingPlease stop! I can't take it any more.
take something lying down (= accept something without any protest):In this job you have to be able to take criticism.
I'm not going to take defeat lying down.
b) to accept an explanation or something that someone says without discussing it or arguing about ittake someone's word for it (= believe what someone tells you):take it from someone (= believe them):You don't have to take my word for it – ask anyone.
That's the truth, take it from me.
6) [transitive] to win a prize in a competition or a vote in an electionGladiator took the Oscar for best film.
Who took the silver medal?
The Labour Party took 45 per cent of the vote.
7) [transitive] to reach out and get something, especially with your handTake as many cakes as you like.
take someone by the arm/hand etc:Let me take your coats.
take someone in/into your arms:Her mother took her gently by the shoulders.
take something in your hands:I'll take her in my arms and kiss her.
I took the baby bird gently in my hands.
8)a) [transitive] to study a particular subject at school or collegeI took a course in computer programming.
Are you taking algebra this year?
b) to do an examination in a particular subjectI took my driving test three times before I passed.
She'll have to take the exam again.
9) [transitive] to remove somethingtake something away from someone/something:Take the knife away from her!
take something out of something:These drugs should take the pain away.
Will you take the plates out of the cupboard?
Government officials came to take soil samples from the factory site.
a) to steal something, or borrow it without the owner's permissionWho's taken my pencil?
The burglars didn't seem to have taken much.
b) maths to remove one number or quantity from another number or quantitytake something (away) from something:What do you get if you take seven from twelve?
10) [transitive] to get a picture or a measurement using a machineThe scientists will take more readings from the lava flow.
take someone's temperature:They've taken several scans of her brain.
take a picture/photograph/photo:A nurse took his temperature every hour.
May I take a picture of the two of you?
11)a) [transitive] to get control of something from an opponentThe town was finally taken after a six-week siege.
b) to get something from an opponent in a game or sports competitionOur new bowler took six wickets in his first match.
Her bishop took my queen (= in the game of chess).
12) [transitive] to get something from a book or collection of thingstake something from something:The picture on page 5 is taken from their brochure.
They played a selection of songs taken from Broadway musicals.
13) [transitive] to get money from selling something to people, either regularly or on a particular occasionThe shop takes about £1,000 a week.
14)a) [transitive] to use a particular type of transporttake a bus/train/plane/taxi etc:I usually take the bus to work.
b) to use a particular path or roadTake the A14 as far as Cambridge.
We took a trail through the forest.
15)a) [transitive] if a piece of equipment takes something, it uses that thing in order to workWhat size batteries does your torch take?
cars that take unleaded petrol
b) if a piece of equipment takes something, it is able to accept the size or weight of that thing without breakingThe tank takes about twenty gallons of water.
Careful – that shelf won't take all those books.
16)a) [transitive] used in particular phrases meaning to eat or drink something, especially regularlytake milk/sugar/lemon:take food (= eat):Do you take milk in your coffee?
They are refusing to take food.
b) to put a drug or medicine into your bodyTake two aspirins and go to bed.
No more than four pills should be taken in 24 hours.
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Usage note:
You eat food and drink drinks, but you take liquid or solid medicine: She took a pill for her headache. ♦ You have to keep taking your antibiotics.17) [transitive] used for talking about the size of clothes or shoes that someone wearsWhat size shoes do you take?
18) [transitive] to use a product regularlyWhich newspaper do you take?
19) [transitive] to use something in a discussionLet's take that last point first.
take something as something:I never throw anything away. Take this car (= use it as an example) – it's very reliable.
I'll take his behaviour as an example of what I mean.
20)a) [transitive] to think about someone or something in a particular waytake something as a compliment/an insult:He tries hard, but I just can't take him seriously.
take something as an omen/a sign:She took his remarks as a compliment.
take something as proof/evidence of something:They took the rainbow as a sign from their god.
We can't take his silence as proof of his guilt.
b) to understand someone's words or actions in a particular waytake someone to mean something:He took her remark literally.
take something the wrong way (= be offended):I took you to mean that you'd be there early.
Don't take this the wrong way – I'm just trying to help.
21) [transitive] to do or to have somethingtake a seat (= sit down):take power/office:Please take a seat.
take cover (= hide):The new president will take office in January.
take a risk:They're shooting at us! Quick, take cover!
take (the) credit:Can you take the risk that you might lose your money?
take control/command:I did all the work, but Gill took all the credit.
take responsibility:The rebels are taking control of the city.
We must encourage fathers to take full responsibility for their children.
22) [transitive] to have or to show a feeling or opiniontake offence:take (an) interest:I'm afraid she took offence at my remarks.
take a view/attitude:He's never taken much interest in his kids.
I take the view that children should be told the truth.
See:pity I23) [intransitive] if a process takes, it is successfulThe dye didn't take properly.
I don't think your cuttings will take in this soil.
24) [transitive] British to have responsibility for a group of studentstake someone for something:Who takes the history class on Mondays?
Mr Churchley will be taking you for English.
25) [transitive] literary if a man takes a woman, he has sex with her•it takes all sorts (to make a world)
— spoken used for saying that you find someone's behaviour surprising or strange but you will accept it"I love rainy days!" "Well, it takes all sorts."
take it (that)
— spoken used for saying that you expect that the person who you are talking to knows something or will do somethingPhrasal verbs:I take it you've heard about Ben and Carol splitting up.
- take for- take in- take off- take on- take out- take to- take up
II UK [teɪk] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "take":
singular take plural takes1) cinema a section of a film or television programme that is recorded without stopping2) [usually singular] informal the amount of money that a business earns in a particular period of time•
English dictionary. 2014.
