What is "take up"

alt. 1 (context transitive English) To pick up. 2 (context transitive English) To begin doing (an activity) on a regular basis. 3 (senseid en address) (context transitive English) To address#Verb (an issue). 4 (context transitive English) To occupy; to consume (space or time). 5 (context transitive sewing English) To shorten by hemming. 6 (context transitive with on English) To accept (a proposal, offer, request, etc.) from. 7 (context intransitive English) to resume 8 To implement, to employ, to put into use. n. 1 (context machinery English) That which takes up or tightens; specifically, a device in a sewing machine for drawing up the slack thread as the needle rises, in completing a stitch. 2 acceptance (of a proposal, offer, request, etc.). vb. 1 (context transitive English) To pick up. 2 (context transitive English) To begin doing (an activity) on a regular basis. 3 (senseid en address) (context transitive English) To address#Verb (an issue). 4 (context transitive English) To occupy; to consume (space or time). 5 (context transitive sewing English) To shorten by hemming. 6 (context transitive with on English) To accept (a proposal, offer, request, etc.) from. 7 (context intransitive English) to resume 8 To implement, to employ, to put into use.

1. v. pursue or resume; "take up a matter for consideration"

2. adopt; "take up new ideas" [syn: latch on, fasten on, hook on, seize on]

3. turn one's interest to; "He took up herpetology at the age of fifty"

4. take up time or space; "take up the slack"

5. begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job; "Take up a position"; "start a new job" [syn: start]

6. take up and practice as one's own [syn: adopt, borrow, take over]

7. occupy or take on; "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" [syn: assume, take, strike]

8. take up a liquid or a gas either by adsorption or by absorption [syn: sorb]

9. take out or up with or as if with a scoop; "scoop the sugar out of the container" [syn: scoop, scoop out, lift out, scoop up]

10. accept; "The cloth takes up the liquid" [syn: take in]

11. take in, also metaphorically; "The sponge absorbs water well"; "She drew strength from the minister's words" [syn: absorb, suck, imbibe, soak up, sop up, suck up, draw, take in]

12. take up as if with a sponge [syn: take in, sop up, suck in]

13. return to a previous location or condition; "The painting resumed its old condition when we restored it" [syn: resume]