1. The acceptance, claiming, purchase or adoption of something
   "we're not getting much take-up for the affordable housing"
    
2. Any of various devices for reducing slack (as in a sewing machine) or taking up motion (as in a loom)
   "a take-up that winds photographic film on a spool"
    
3. The action of taking up as by tightening, absorption or reeling in
   "The take-up of slack in the rope secured the load"

1. Pursue or resume
   "take up a matter for consideration"
    
2. Begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job
   "Take up a position";
   - start
    
3. Take up time or space
   "take up the slack"
    
4. Turn one's interest to
   "He took up herpetology at the age of fifty"
    
5. Quickly grasp or make use of an idea, opportunity, etc.
   "take up new ideas";
   - latch on [informal], fasten on, seize on
    
6. Take up and practice as one's own
   "The politician took up a new stance on climate change";
   - adopt, borrow, take over
    
7. Occupy or take on
   "She took up her position behind the tree";
   - assume, take, strike
    
8. Take in, also metaphorically
   "The sponge took up the spilled water";
   - absorb, suck, imbibe, soak up, sop up, suck up, draw, take in
    
9. Accept
   "The cloth takes up the liquid";
   - take in
    
10. Take out or up with or as if with a scoop
    "She took up the spilled sugar with a dustpan";
    - scoop, scoop out, lift out, scoop up
     
11. (chemistry) take up a liquid or a gas either by adsorption or by absorption
    "The activated charcoal took up the impurities from the air";
    - sorb
     
12. Take up as if with a sponge
    "The ground took up the rainwater";
    - take in, sop up, suck in
     
13. Return to a previous location or condition
    "The painting took up its old condition when we restored it";
    - resume

Derived forms: took up, taken up, take-ups, takes up, taking up

See also: get hold of, have, take

Type of: accept, act, adopt, begin, change, change state, consume, device, embark, embrace, enter, espouse, fill, get, get down, have, ingest, move, occupy, receive, remove, set about, set out, start, start out, take, take away, take in, tightening, turn, withdraw