From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtaketake1 /teɪk/ ●●● verb (past tense took /tʊk/, past participle taken /ˈteɪkən/) S1 W1 1 move [transitive]TAKE/BRING to move or go with someone or something from one place to another OPP bringtake somebody/something to/into etc something Barney took us to the airport. Would you mind taking Susie home? When he refused to give his name, he was taken into custody. My job has taken me all over the world.take somebody/something with you His wife went to Australia, taking the children with her.take somebody something I have to take Steve the money tonight.take somebody to do something He took me to meet his parents.► see thesaurus at bring, lead2 action [transitive]XX used with a noun instead of using a verb to describe an action. For example, if you take a walk, you walk somewhere Would you like to take a look? Mike’s just taking a shower. Sara took a deep breath. I waved, but he didn’t take any notice (=pretended not to notice). British English Please take a seat (=sit down).take a picture/photograph/photo Would you mind taking a photo of us together?3 remove [transitive] to remove something from a placetake something off/from etc something Take your feet off the seats. Someone’s taken a pen from my desk. Police say money and jewellery were taken in the raid. → take ► see thesaurus at steal4 time/money/effort etc [transitive] if something takes a particular amount of time, money, effort etc, that amount of time etc is needed for it to happen or succeed How long is this going to take? Organizing a successful street party takes a lot of energy.take (somebody) something (to do something) Repairs take time to carry out. It took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust to the dark.take (somebody) ages/forever informal It took me ages to find a present for Dad.take some doing British English informal (=need a lot of time or effort) Catching up four goals will take some doing.take courage/guts It takes courage to admit you are wrong.have what it takes informal (=to have the qualities that are needed for success) Neil’s got what it takes to be a great footballer.5 accept [transitive] to accept or choose something that is offered, suggested, or given to you Will you take the job? Do you take American Express? If you take my advice, you’ll see a doctor. Our helpline takes 3.5 million calls (=telephone calls) a year. Some doctors are unwilling to take new patients without a referral. Liz found his criticisms hard to take. I just can’t take any more (=can’t deal with a bad situation any longer). Staff have agreed to take a 2% pay cut.take a hammering/beating (=be forced to accept defeat or a bad situation) Small businesses took a hammering in the last recession.I take your point/point taken (=used to say that you accept someone’s opinion)take somebody’s word for it/take it from somebody (=accept that what someone says is true) That’s the truth – take it from me.take the credit/blame/responsibility He’s the kind of man who makes things happen but lets others take the credit.take it as read/given (=assume that something is correct or certain, because you are sure that this is the case) It isn’t official yet, but you can take it as read that you’ve got the contract.6 hold something [transitive]HOLD to get hold of something in your hands Let me take your coat. Can you take this package while I get my wallet?take somebody/something in/by something I just wanted to take him in my arms. 7 travel [transitive]GO to use a particular form of transport or a particular road in order to go somewhere Let’s take a cab. I took the first plane out. Take the M6 to Junction 19.8 study [transitive] to study a particular subject in school or college for an examination Are you taking French next year?► see thesaurus at study9 test [transitive] to do an examination or test SYN sit British English Applicants are asked to take a written test.10 suitable [transitive]USE something to be the correct or suitable size, type etc for a particular person or thing a car that takes low sulphur fuel What size shoe do you take? The elevator takes a maximum of 32 people.GRAMMAR: Using the progressiveIn this meaning, take is not used in the progressive. You say: I take size 12. ✗Don’t say: I’m taking size 12.11 collect [transitive] to collect or gather something for a particular purpose Investigators will take samples of the wreckage to identify the cause.take something from something The police took a statement from both witnesses. 12 consider [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to react to someone or something or consider them in a particular waytake somebody/something seriously/badly/personally etc I was joking, but he took me seriously. Ben took the news very badly. She does not take kindly to criticism (=reacts badly to criticism).take something as something I’ll take that remark as a compliment.take something as evidence/proof (of something) The presence of dust clouds has been taken as evidence of recent star formation.take somebody/something to be something I took her to be his daughter.take somebody/something for something Of course I won’t tell anyone! What do you take me for? (=what sort of person do you think I am?) I take it (=I assume) you’ve heard that Rick’s resigned.13 feelings [transitive usually + adverb]FEEL HAPPY/FRIGHTENED/BORED ETC to have or experience a particular feelingtake delight/pleasure/pride etc in (doing) something You should take pride in your work. At first, he took no interest in the baby.take pity on somebody She stood feeling lost until an elderly man took pity on her.take offence (=feel offended) Don’t take offence. Roger says things like that to everybody.take comfort from/in (doing) something Investors can take comfort from the fact that the World Bank is underwriting the shares.14 control [transitive]CONTROL to get possession or control of something Enemy forces have taken the airport. Both boys were taken prisoner.take control/charge/power The communists took power in 1948. Youngsters need to take control of their own lives.take the lead (=in a race, competition etc)15 medicine/drugs [transitive]MDMDD to swallow, breathe in, inject etc a drug or medicine The doctor will ask whether you are taking any medication. Take two tablets before bedtime.take drugs (=take illegal drugs) Most teenagers start taking drugs through boredom. She took an overdose after a row with her boyfriend.16 → do you take sugar/milk?17 level [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to make someone or something go to a higher level or positiontake something to/into something The latest raise takes his salary into six figures. Even if you have the talent to take you to the top, there’s no guarantee you’ll get there. If you want to take it further, you should consult an attorney. 18 measure [transitive]MEASURE to measure the amount, level, rate etc of something Take the patient’s pulse first.19 numbers [transitive]COUNT/CALCULATE to make a number smaller by a particular amount SYN subtracttake something away/take something (away) from something ‘Take four from nine and what do you get?’ ‘Five.’ Ten take away nine equals one.20 money [transitive] British English if a shop, business etc takes a particular amount of money, it receives that amount of money from its customers SYN take in American English The stall took £25 on Saturday.21 → somebody can take it or leave it22 → take somebody/something (for example)23 teach [transitive] British EnglishTEACH to teach a particular group of students in a school or collegetake somebody for something Who takes you for English?24 write [transitive]WRITE to write down information Let me take your email address. Sue offered to take notes. 25 → take somebody out of themselves26 → take a lot out of you/take it out of you27 → take it upon/on yourself to do something28 → take something to bits/pieces29 → be taken with/by something30 → be taken ill/sick31 sex [transitive] literarySEX/HAVE SEX WITH if a man takes someone, he has sex with them32 → take a bend/fence/corner etc33 have an effect [intransitive]SUCCEED IN DOING something if a treatment, dye, drug etc takes, it begins to work successfullyTHESAURUStake to move or go with someone or something from one place to anotherDon’t forget to take your keys.Shall I take you home?I took Alice a cup of tea.bring to take someone or something to the place where you are nowWe’ve brought someone to see you!Will you bring your photos with you when you come?transport to take large quantities of goods from one place to another in a plane, train, ship etcThe plane is used for transporting military equipment.The coal was transported by rail.deliver to take goods, letters, newspapers etc to someone’s home or officeUnfortunately, the package was delivered to the wrong address. fly to take someone or something somewhere by planeThe bread is specially flown in from Paris.ship to take goods from one place to another – this can be by ship, truck, plane, or trainHalf the whisky is shipped to Japan and the US.carry to take people or goods somewhere – used especially when saying how many people or things, or what kindThe new plane can carry up to 600 passengers.The ship was carrying a full cargo of oil.lead to take someone to a place by going in front of themHe led Julia through the house to his study.Roland led the way back to the car in silence.guide to take someone to a place and show them the wayEmily guided him through a side gate into a large garden.escort to take someone to a place and protect or guard themThe prisoner was escorted into the room by two police officers.The singer was escorted by her assistant and her bodyguard.usher to politely lead someone somewhere and show them where to go, especially because it is your job to do thisWe were ushered into the lift by a man in uniform. → be taken aback → take after somebody → take somebody/something apart → take against somebody/something → take somebody/something ↔ away → take away from something → take somebody/something ↔ back → take something ↔ down → take somebody/something ↔ in → take off → take somebody/something ↔ on → take somebody/something ↔ out → take something out on somebody → take over → take to somebody/something → take up → take somebody up on something → take up with somebody/something→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
take• Can you give me an idea how long this is going to take?• Employees are being forced to take a 5% pay cut.• He took a dictionary down from the shelf.• Don't get discouraged. Learning a new language takes a lot of effort.• He's not here right now. Can I take a message?• All freshman have to take at least one composition course.• He neither drinks nor takes drugs.• Are you taking French again this semester?• Anna will be taking her music exam in the summer.• Doing the painting alone will take him all day.• Are we allowed to take library books home with us?• Have you taken my keys? I can't find them.• Did you take my pen again?• Can you take some of these books off me?• Do you take sugar in your coffee?• He should have taken that job.• Did he take the camera with him?• "Where's Dan?" "He's taken the car to the garage."• Did he take your advice?• Don't forget to take your keys.take somebody something• We should take your grandma some of these flowers.take a picture/photograph/photo• Perhaps the local paper will take photographs for a story and make copies available to you afterwards.• He had been told to take photographs for the magazine, not to give to Ana.• Amid the activities of people taking pictures, I also saw for the first time a woman wearing nylon stockings.• They took pictures not only of the wall but of the unsightly houses the government had wanted to hide.• He used to sneak into glittery society events and take pictures of himself with all the leading celebs.• Sometimes I took my camera to the beach and took photographs of some of the boats that went by.• He took a photograph of the sign, on the ground in front of it.• I could just look - take a photograph perhaps, and then travel on. have what it takes• And if you have what it takes and can stand the pace, a jolly good salary.• If you have what it takes and can stand the pace of advertising, you can earn a very good salary.• They have what it takes to exist for millions of years, and that is why they are still here today.• But, height apart, does he have what it takes to fill Paul Ackford's boots?• Elaine has what it takes to make acting her career.• Do you have what it takes to run this business, or shall I give someone else the chance?• The big question is, do we have what it takes to transcend our egos when the facts reveal our faulty thinking?take it as read/given• Let us take it as read that Hawkwind started quite a few trends in their time.took ... statement• She'd called the police, and had to wait while they took statements, and things.• Until last week when a detective took a statement from her.• Gardai investigating the crash took statements from some of the dozens of spectators at yesterday's gala. I take it• I take it that you're Rob's sister?• With this background, and my father's job, I took it as natural that I would go into scientific research.• You are Sister Cameron, I take it.• So can we take it that you'll be at the meeting?• You've made plans for the future, I take it?• Hence, I take it that they were laying down principles in relation to joint and several debtors generally.• I am ashamed to say I took it, despite suspecting that his family might go short.• I know they say I am a celebrity, but I take it all with a pinch of salt.• The principal handed me the thick folder, and I took it to the teachers' lounge and closed the door.• When I took it over from Matt I realised that a wilderness was something different from the average person's orderly life.• Why can't I take it off and rest it awhile on some one's mantel-piece?take comfort from/in (doing) something• Dozing defendants can take comfort from that as well because the same rule applies to filing acknowledgement of service.• She was a rich lady now; let her take comfort in that.• The populace took comfort in the fact that the law was unenforceable; there simply weren't enough lamp posts.• They could, perhaps, take comfort from the poster on the hotel's swing doors announcing the following Saturday's cabaret.• One cynical answer is that they are there be-cause viewers take comfort in the realization that they have escaped disaster.• I am bothered and amused by our tendency to blame ourselves for becoming dependent and taking comfort in these things..• Rice takes comfort in visiting some clients with a. 380 Sig Sauer tucked in his Langlitz.take the lead• Always lets the man take the lead.• But Boro barely had time to reorganise at the start of the second half before Southampton took the lead.• It took only eight minutes for Portadown to take the lead.• The good news is that there seem to be circumstances in which he can take the lead.• The Monongahela... at once took the lead...• Town took the lead after 40 minutes.• Germany took the lead in recognizing the new republics.• It's up to the U.S. and Russia to take the lead in solving the crisis.• Kent took the lead in the fifth lap.• Three needed to take the lead: young fast bowler Royden Hayes, till then victimless, skittled Priest. took ... overdose• In despair, I unsuccessfully took an overdose.• The patient described here took an overdose not long after her marriage somewhat unexpectedly came to an end.• When she refused he took an overdose of his barbiturate tablets in front of her.• She mentioned the dashing don in a note found in the room where she took an overdose of pain-killers.• The 37-year-old took an overdose of painkillers and lay in sub-zero conditions with just a sleeping bag.• Just before Christmas he took an overdose of pills.• At the age of 20 she took an overdose when she thought a boyfriend was about to desert her.take ... further• They may tackle a subject from a fresh angle, bring a new perspective, and help take the debate further.• Escapism, or what might be called withdrawal taken a step further, finds a home in several artists' works.• Table 1.1 takes the argument further, highlighting three aspects of member contribution in which tests of success might be fashioned.• When she was taken for further interrogation the following day, it was with mixed feelings of anticipation and dread.• Some graduates go on to take further qualifications, for example in housing or social work, or into postgraduate research.• He had carried out his part of the agreement and would take no further risks.take notes• I read the first three chapters and took some notes.• As I listen to Shepperson, I decide to take notes.• Before editing, the reporter will play the tape and take notes.• They want to sit there passively, taking notes.• A place to stay where he didn't have to take notes about flights and ferries and hotels and restaurants and sights.• Did you take any notes at the lecture?• I don't think anyone but me was taking notes at this stage of the proceedings.• You may take notes, but you must not take any recording device into the room.• He may be asked to take notes of the evidence.• You took notes, reviewed them, and researched additional information at the library. taketake2 noun 1 [countable] an occasion when a film scene, song, action etc is recorded We had to do six takes for this particular scene.► see thesaurus at example2 → somebody’s take (on something)3 → be on the take4 [usually singular] American English informalBB the amount of money earned by a shop or business in a particular period of timeExamples from the Corpus
take• The wind was biting, and sleet blew into our faces and stung our eyes during take after take after take.• With each new take great actors such as Mark Rylance and Kerry Fox contribute something remarkable and new.From Longman Business Dictionarytaketake1 /teɪk/ noun [countable usually singular] American English informal1FINANCEthe amount of money earned by a business in a particular period of timeAbout 80% of the band’s take is from merchandise.2be on the take to be willing to do something wrong or illegal in return for moneyI knew he was on the take, but I never had enough evidence to prove it.taketake2 verb (past tense took /tʊk/, past participle taken /ˈteɪkən/) [transitive]1 (also take away) to subtract one number from another numbertake something from somethingTake three from nine and what do you get?2 (also take in American English)COMMERCE if a business takes or takes in a particular amount of money, it earns that money from selling its goods and servicesWe usually take around £2000 on a Saturday. → take something → in → take off → take on → take something → out → take over something → take something → up → take somebody up on something→ See Verb tableOrigin take1 (1000-1100) Old Norse taka 