I just took a look at "take" and had to take a seat. It took me some time to recover and take a deep breath before I could have another take. I take it would take quite a few words to replace "take", were it taken from us. Taking no sides, I’m quite taken.
If my suggestion takes root, fine. If "take" is taken, i.e., has been suggested before, take it easy. I’ll take the heat.
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take [ tk ]
v. took [ tk ], tak·en [ tkn ], tak·ing, takes
v. tr.
1. To get into one’s possession by force, skill, or artifice, especially: a. To capture physically; seize: take an enemy fortress. b. To seize with authority; confiscate. c. To kill, snare, or trap (fish or game, for example). d. Sports & Games To acquire in a game or competition; win: took the crown in horseracing. e. Sports & Games To defeat: Our team took the visitors three to one. f. Sports To catch (a ball in play), especially in baseball: The player took it on the fly.
2. To grasp with the hands; grip: Take your partner’s hand.
3. To encounter or catch in a particular situation; come upon; discover: Your actions took me by surprise.
4. To deal a blow to; strike or hit: The boxer took his opponent a sharp jab to the ribs.
5. To affect favorably or winsomely; charm or captivate: She was taken by the puppy.
6. a. To put (food or drink, for example) into the body; eat or drink: took a little soup for dinner. b. To draw in; inhale: took a deep breath.
7. To expose one’s body to (healthful or pleasurable treatment, for example): take the sun; take the waters at a spa.
8. To bring or receive into a particular relation, association, or other connection: take a new partner into the firm; take a company national.
9. To engage in sex with.
10. To accept and place under one’s care or keeping.
11. To appropriate for one’s own or another’s use or benefit; obtain by purchase; secure or buy: We always take season tickets.
12. To assume for oneself: take all the credit. a. To charge or oblige oneself with the fulfillment of (a task or duty, for example); commit oneself to: She took the position of chair of the committee. b. To pledge one’s obedience to; impose (a vow or promise) upon oneself. c. To impose upon oneself; subject oneself to: We took extra time to do the job properly. d. To accept or adopt for one’s own: She took his side in the dispute. e. To put forth or adopt as a point of argument, defense, or discussion. f. To require or have as a fitting or proper accompaniment: Transitive verbs take a direct object.
13. To pick out; select or choose: take any card. a. To choose for one’s own use; avail oneself of the use of: We took a rented car. b. To use (something) as when in operation: This camera takes 35mm film. c. To use (something) as a means of conveyance or transportation: take a train to Pittsburgh. d. To use (something) as a means of safety or refuge: take shelter from the storm. e. To choose and then adopt (a particular route or direction) while on foot or while operating a vehicle: Take a right at the next corner. The driver downshifted to take the corner.
14. To assume occupancy of: take a seat.
15. To require (something) as a basic necessity: It takes money to live in that town.
16. To obtain from a source; derive or draw: The book takes its title from the Bible.
17. To obtain, as through measurement or a specified procedure: took the patient’s temperature.
18. To write or make a record of, especially in shorthand or cursive writing: take a letter; take notes.
19. To create (an image, likeness, or representation), as by drawing, painting, or photography: took a picture of us.
20. To include or distribute (a charge) in a financial record.
21. a. To accept (something owed, offered, or given) either reluctantly or willingly: take a bribe. b. To submit to (something inflicted); undergo or suffer: didn’t take his punishment well. c. To put up with; endure or tolerate: I’ve had about all I can take from them. d. Baseball To refrain from swinging at (a pitched ball). e. To be affected with; catch: The child took the flu. f. To be hit or penetrated by: took a lot of punches; took a bullet in the leg. g. To withstand: The dam took the heavy flood waters.
22. a. To accept or believe (something put forth) as true: I’ll take your word. b. To follow (advice, a suggestion, or a lead, for example). c. To accept, handle, or deal with in a particular way: He takes things in stride. d. To consider in a particular relation or from a particular viewpoint: take the bitter with the sweet.
23. To undertake, make, or perform: take a walk; take a decision.
24. a. To allow to come in; give access or admission to; admit: The boat took a lot of water but remained afloat. b. To provide room for; accommodate: We can’t take more than 100 guests. c. To become saturated or impregnated with (dye, for example).
25. a. To understand or interpret: May I take your smile as an indication of approval? b. To consider; assume: Take the matter as settled. c. To consider to be equal to; reckon: We take their number at 1,000. d. To perceive or feel; experience: She took a dislike to his intrusions.
26. To carry, convey, lead, or cause to go along to another place: Don’t forget to take your umbrella. This bus takes you to New York. See Usage Note at bring.
27. To remove from a place: take the dishes from the sink.
28. To secure by removing: The dentist took two molars.
29. To cause to die; kill or destroy: The blight took these tomatoes.
30. To subtract: take 15 from 30.
31. To exact: The storm took its toll.
32. a. To commit and apply oneself to the study of: take art lessons; take Spanish. b. To study for with success: took a degree in law.
33. Informal To swindle, defraud, or cheat: You’ve really been taken.
v. intr.
1. To acquire possession.
2. To engage or mesh; catch, as gears or other mechanical parts.
3. To start growing; root or germinate: Have the seeds taken?
4. To have the intended effect; operate or work: The skin graft took.
5. To gain popularity or favor: The television series, which didn’t take, was later canceled.
6. To become: He took sick.
n.
1. a. The act or process of taking. b. That which is taken.
2. a. A quantity collected at one time, especially the amount of profit or receipts taken on a business arrangement or venture. b. The number of fish, game birds, or other animals killed or captured at one time.
3. Sports The amount of money collected as admission to a sporting event; the gate.
4. The uninterrupted running of a movie or television camera or a set of recording equipment in filming a movie or television program or cutting a record.
5. a. A scene filmed or televised without interrupting the run of the camera. b. A recording made in a single session.
6. a. A physical reaction, such as a rash, indicating a successful vaccination. b. A successful graft.
7. Slang An attempt or a try: He got the answer on the third take.
8. Informal An in