take up

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

2: adopt, as of 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" [syn: {turn to}]

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, as of a position or posture; "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" [syn: {assume}, {take}]

8: take up a liquid or a gas either by adsorption or by

absorption; in chemistry [syn: {sorb}]

9: take out or up with or as if with a scoop [syn: {scoop}, {scoop

out}, {lift out}, {scoop up}]

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

11: be able to take in, as of liquids; "The sponge absorbs water

well" [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}]