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1. Take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect
   "His voice took on a sad tone";
   - assume, acquire, adopt, take
    
2. Take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities
   - assume, adopt, take over
    
3. Accept as a challenge
   "I'll take on this difficult task";
   - undertake, tackle
    
4. Admit into a group or community
   "take on students for graduate study";
   - accept, admit, take
    
5. Contend against an opponent in a sport, game, or battle
   "Princeton takes on Yale this weekend";
   - meet, encounter, play

Derived forms: taken on, takes on, taking on, took on

Type of: accept, change, confront, face, face up, have, take, take office