taking Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of someone who picks up or takes something
    pickings.
    • the pickings were easy
    • clothing could be had for the taking
  2. verb carry out
    take.
    • take action
    • take steps
    • take vengeance
  3. verb require (time or space)
    occupy; take; use up.
    • It took three hours to get to work this morning
    • This event occupied a very short time
  4. verb take somebody somewhere
    guide; conduct; take; lead; direct.
    • We lead him to our chief
    • can you take me to the main entrance?
    • He conducted us to the palace
  5. verb get into one's hands, take physically
    take; get hold of.
    • Take a cookie!
    • Can you take this bag, please
  6. verb take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect
    assume; take on; acquire; take; adopt.
    • His voice took on a sad tone
    • The story took a new turn
    • he adopted an air of superiority
    • She assumed strange manners
    • The gods assume human or animal form in these fables
  7. verb interpret something in a certain way; convey a particular meaning or impression
    read; take.
    • I read this address as a satire
    • How should I take this message?
    • You can't take credit for this!
  8. verb take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
    bring; take; convey.
    • Bring me the box from the other room
    • Take these letters to the boss
    • This brings me to the main point
  9. verb take into one's possession
    take.
    • We are taking an orphan from Romania
    • I'll take three salmon steaks
  10. verb travel or go by means of a certain kind of transportation, or a certain route
    take.
    • He takes the bus to work
    • She takes Route 1 to Newark
  11. verb pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
    pick out; choose; select; take.
    • Take any one of these cards
    • Choose a good husband for your daughter
    • She selected a pair of shoes from among the dozen the salesgirl had shown her
  12. verb receive willingly something given or offered
    have; take; accept.
    • The only girl who would have him was the miller's daughter
    • I won't have this dog in my house!
    • Please accept my present
  13. verb assume, as of positions or roles
    occupy; take; fill.
    • She took the job as director of development
    • he occupies the position of manager
    • the young prince will soon occupy the throne
  14. verb take into consideration for exemplifying purposes
    look at; consider; deal; take.
    • Take the case of China
    • Consider the following case
  15. verb require as useful, just, or proper
    call for; require; necessitate; involve; need; take; demand; ask; postulate.
    • It takes nerve to do what she did
    • success usually requires hard work
    • This job asks a lot of patience and skill
    • This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice
    • This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert
    • This intervention does not postulate a patient's consent
  16. verb experience or feel or submit to
    take.
    • Take a test
    • Take the plunge
  17. verb make a film or photograph of something
    shoot; take; film.
    • take a scene
    • shoot a movie
  18. verb remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
    withdraw; take away; take; remove.
    • remove a threat
    • remove a wrapper
    • Remove the dirty dishes from the table
    • take the gun from your pocket
    • This machine withdraws heat from the environment
  19. verb serve oneself to, or consume regularly
    have; take in; consume; ingest; take.
    • Have another bowl of chicken soup!
    • I don't take sugar in my coffee
  20. verb accept or undergo, often unwillingly
    take; submit.
    • We took a pay cut
  21. verb make use of or accept for some purpose
    take; accept.
    • take a risk
    • take an opportunity
  22. verb take by force
    take.
    • Hitler took the Baltic Republics
    • The army took the fort on the hill
  23. verb occupy or take on
    assume; strike; take up; take.
    • He assumes the lotus position
    • She took her seat on the stage
    • We took our seats in the orchestra
    • She took up her position behind the tree
    • strike a pose
  24. verb admit into a group or community
    take on; admit; take; accept.
    • accept students for graduate study
    • We'll have to vote on whether or not to admit a new member
  25. verb ascertain or determine by measuring, computing or take a reading from a dial
    take.
    • take a pulse
    • A reading was taken of the earth's tremors
  26. verb be a student of a certain subject
    read; study; take; learn.
    • She is reading for the bar exam
  27. verb take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs
    claim; exact; take.
    • the accident claimed three lives
    • The hard work took its toll on her
  28. verb head into a specified direction
    make; take.
    • The escaped convict took to the hills
    • We made for the mountains
  29. verb point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards
    aim; direct; train; take; take aim.
    • Please don't aim at your little brother!
    • He trained his gun on the burglar
    • Don't train your camera on the women
    • Take a swipe at one's opponent
  30. verb be seized or affected in a specified way
    take.
    • take sick
    • be taken drunk
  31. verb have with oneself; have on one's person
    carry; take; pack.
    • She always takes an umbrella
    • I always carry money
    • She packs a gun when she goes into the mountains
  32. verb engage for service under a term of contract
    hire; engage; charter; take; lease; rent.
    • We took an apartment on a quiet street
    • Let's rent a car
    • Shall we take a guide in Rome?
  33. verb receive or obtain regularly
    subscribe to; subscribe; take.
    • We take the Times every day
  34. verb buy, select
    take.
    • I'll take a pound of that sausage
  35. verb to get into a position of having, e.g., safety, comfort
    take.
    • take shelter from the storm
  36. verb have sex with; archaic use
    take; have.
    • He had taken this woman when she was most vulnerable
  37. verb lay claim to; as of an idea
    claim; take.
    • She took credit for the whole idea
  38. verb be designed to hold or take
    take; accept.
    • This surface will not take the dye
  39. verb be capable of holding or containing
    hold; take; contain.
    • This box won't take all the items
    • The flask holds one gallon
  40. verb develop a habit
    take.
    • He took to visiting bars
  41. verb proceed along in a vehicle
    drive; take.
    • We drive the turnpike to work
  42. verb obtain by winning
    take.
    • Winner takes all
    • He took first prize
  43. verb be stricken by an illness, fall victim to an illness
    take; contract; get.
    • He got AIDS
    • She came down with pneumonia
    • She took a chill
  44. adjective satellite very attractive; capturing interest
    fetching; winning.
    • a fetching new hairstyle
    • something inexpressibly taking in his manner
    • a winning personality

WordNet


Tak"ing adjective
Definitions
  1. Apt to take; alluring; attracting.
    Subtile in making his temptations most taking. Fuller.
  2. Infectious; contageous. Obs. Beau. & Fl. -- Tak"ing*ly, adv. -- Tak"ing*ness, n.
Tak"ing noun
Definitions
  1. The act of gaining possession; a seizing; seizure; apprehension.
  2. Agitation; excitement; distress of mind. Colloq.
    What a taking was he in, when your husband asked who was in the basket! Shak.
  3. Malign influence; infection. Obs. Shak.

Webster 1913