Take \Take\, v. i.

1. To take hold; to fix upon anything; to have the natural or intended effect; to accomplish a purpose; as, he was inoculated, but the virus did not take. --Shak.

When flame taketh and openeth, it giveth a noise. --Bacon.

In impressions from mind to mind, the impression taketh, but is overcome . . . before it work any manifest effect. --Bacon.

2. To please; to gain reception; to succeed.

Each wit may praise it for his own dear sake, And hint he writ it, if the thing should take. --Addison.

3. To move or direct the course; to resort; to betake one's self; to proceed; to go; -- usually with to; as, the fox, being hard pressed, took to the hedge.

4. To admit of being pictured, as in a photograph; as, his face does not take well.

To take after.
   (a) To learn to follow; to copy; to imitate; as, he takes after a good pattern.
   (b) To resemble; as, the son takes after his father.

To take in with, to resort to. [Obs.]

--Bacon.

To take on, to be violently affected; to express grief or pain in a violent manner.

To take to.
   (a) To apply one's self to; to be fond of; to become attached to; as, to take to evil practices. ``If he does but take to you, . . . you will contract a great friendship with him.'' --Walpole.
   (b) To resort to; to betake one's self to. ``Men of learning, who take to business, discharge it generally with greater honesty than men of the world.'' --Addison.

To take up.
   (a) To stop. [Obs.]

``Sinners at last take up and settle in a contempt of religion.'' --Tillotson.
   (b) To reform. [Obs.]

--Locke.

To take up with.
   (a) To be contended to receive; to receive without opposition; to put up with; as, to take up with plain fare. ``In affairs which may have an extensive influence on our future happiness, we should not take up with probabilities.'' --I. Watts.
   (b) To lodge with; to dwell with. [Obs.]

--L'Estrange.

To take with, to please. --Bacon.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

To take up.
   (a) To lift; to raise. --Hood.
   (b) To buy or borrow; as, to take up goods to a large amount; to take up money at the bank.
   (c) To begin; as, to take up a lamentation. --Ezek. xix. 1.
   (d) To gather together; to bind up; to fasten or to replace; as, to take up raveled stitches; specifically (Surg.), to fasten with a ligature.
   (e) To engross; to employ; to occupy or fill; as, to take up the time; to take up a great deal of room.
   (f) To take permanently. ``Arnobius asserts that men of the finest parts . . . took up their rest in the Christian religion.'' --Addison.
   (g) To seize; to catch; to arrest; as, to take up a thief; to take up vagabonds.
   (h) To admit; to believe; to receive. [Obs.]

The ancients took up experiments upon credit. --Bacon.
   (i) To answer by reproof; to reprimand; to berate.

One of his relations took him up roundly. --L'Estrange.
   (k) To begin where another left off; to keep up in continuous succession.

Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale. --Addison.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)