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take

v. · n.
US //ˈteɪk// UK //tˈeɪk// take
Irregular verb past took past participle taken
  1. 1 to carry or move (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to carry or move something or someone from one place to another.

    to carry, convey, or lead something or someone from one location to another; often implies movement away from the speaker.

    Example

    Please take these documents to the manager's office on the third floor.

    Example

    The courier was instructed to take the sensitive documents directly to the embassy without making any intermediate stops.
    Pitfall
    Can you take this book to me?
    Can you bring this book to me?

    Use 'take' for movement away from the speaker and 'bring' for movement toward the speaker.

  2. 2 to reach for or get (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to reach out and get something with your hands.

    to lay hold of something; to grasp or grip using one's hands or a tool.

    Example

    He took her hand as they walked through the crowded market.

    Example

    She took the heavy iron key from the hook and struggled to turn it in the rusted lock.
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  1. 3 to use transport (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to use a bus, train, or car to travel.

    to use a particular form of transport as a passenger.

    Example

    I usually take the bus to work because parking is too expensive.

    Example

    To reach the remote village, travelers must take a ferry across the river and then hire a local guide.
  2. 4 to need time or effort (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to require a certain amount of time or a specific thing.

    to require or necessitate a specific resource, such as time, effort, or a particular quality.

    Example

    It takes about twenty minutes to walk from the station to the hotel.

    Example

    Mastering a musical instrument takes years of dedicated practice and a significant amount of patience.
  3. 5 to ingest medicine (v.)
    A2 Elementary Medicine

    to swallow medicine or drugs.

    to ingest or consume medicine, typically by swallowing or inhalation.

    Example

    You should take this pill twice a day after your meals.

    Example

    The patient was advised to take the antibiotics for the full ten-day course to ensure the infection was completely cleared.
  4. 6 to capture a photo (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to use a camera to record an image.

    to record an image or scene using a camera or similar device.

    Example

    We took hundreds of photos during our trip to the mountains.

    Example

    The photographer waited for the perfect light before taking the final shot of the cathedral.
  5. 7 to accept or endure (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to accept something or deal with a difficult situation.

    to accept, receive, or endure a situation, often without complaint or resistance.

    Example

    He took the criticism well and promised to improve his work.

    Example

    The company had to take a significant financial loss after the project failed to attract investors.
  6. 8 an opinion (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    your personal opinion or way of thinking about a situation.

    a particular interpretation, perspective, or assessment of a situation or topic.

    Example

    What's your take on the new office policy?

    Example

    The political analyst offered a controversial take on the recent election results, suggesting that voter turnout was lower than reported.
  7. 9 film recording (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical film

    one version of a scene recorded for a movie.

    a single continuous recorded performance or scene in film or music production.

    Example

    The director was happy with the third take and moved to the next scene.

    Example

    After several failed takes due to background noise, the actors finally managed a perfect performance of the emotional monologue.
Origin

From Middle English taken (“to take, lay hold of, grasp, strike”), from Old English tacan (“to grasp, touch”), probably of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse taka (“to touch, take”), from Proto-Germanic tēkaną (“to touch”), from pre-Germanic deh₁g- (“to touch”), possibly a phonetically altered form of Proto-Indo-European *te-th₂g- (“to touch, take”) (see there for details). Gradually displaced native English nim, from Middle English nimen, from Old English niman (“to take”). Cognates Cognate with Scots tak (“to take”), Icelandic and Norwegian Nynorsk taka (“to take”), Norwegian Bokmål ta (“to take”), Swedish ta (“to take”), Danish tage (“to take, seize”), West Frisian take, taakje (“to grab, steal”), Dutch taken (“to take; grasp”), Middle Low German tacken (“to grasp”). English thack may be from the same root. Compare tackle. Despite superficial similarity, unrelated to Proto-Indo-European *tek- (“to take by hand, obtain”), which is instead cognate with English thig (“to beg”).

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