3 VERB If an unpleasant substance taints food or medicine, the food or medicine is spoiled or damaged by it. □ [V n] Rancid oil will taint the flavour. □ [V -ed + with ] The water was so tainted with chemicals that it gave off noxious gases.
take
➊ USED WITH NOUNS DESCRIBING ACTIONS
➋ OTHER USES
➊ take ◆◆◆ /te I k, te I k/ (takes , taking , took , taken ) Take is used in combination with a wide range of nouns, where the meaning of the combination is mostly given by the noun. Many of these combinations are common idiomatic expressions whose meanings can be found at the appropriate nouns. For example, the expression take care is explained at care . 1 VERB You can use take followed by a noun to talk about an action or event, when it would also be possible to use the verb that is related to that noun. For example, you can say ' she took a shower ' instead of 'she showered'. □ [V n] Betty took a photograph of us. □ [V n] I've never taken a holiday since starting this job. □ [V n] There's not enough people willing to take the risk.
2 VERB In ordinary spoken or written English, people use take with a range of nouns instead of using a more specific verb. For example people often say ' he took control ' or ' she took a positive attitude ' instead of 'he assumed control' or 'she adopted a positive attitude'. □ [V n] They took power after a three-month civil war. □ [V n] I felt it was important for women to join and take a leading role.
➋ take ◆◆◆ /te I k/ (takes , taking , took , taken )
→ Please look at categories 51 to 61 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB If you take something, you reach out for it and hold it. □ [V n] Here, let me take your coat. □ [V n + by ] Colette took her by the shoulders and shook her. □ [V n prep] She took her in her arms and tried to comfort her.
2 VERB If you take something with you when you go somewhere, you carry it or have it with you. □ [V n prep/adv] Mark often took his books to Bess's house to study. □ [V n + with ] You should take your passport with you when changing money. □ [V n] Don't forget to take your camera.
3 VERB If a person, vehicle, or path takes someone somewhere, they transport or lead them there. □ [V n prep/adv] The school bus takes them to school and brings them back.
4 VERB If something such as a job or interest takes you to a place, it is the reason for you going there. □ [V n prep/adv] He was a poor student from Madras whose genius took him to Cambridge.
5 VERB If you take something such as your problems or your business to someone, you go to that person when you have problems you want to discuss or things you want to buy. □ [V n + to] You need to take your problems to a trained counsellor.
6 VERB If one thing takes another to a particular level, condition, or state, it causes it to reach that level or condition. □ [V n prep/adv] Her latest research takes her point further.
7 VERB If you take something from a place, you remove it from there. □ [V n with prep/adv] He took a handkerchief from his pocket and lightly wiped his mouth. □ [V n with prep/adv] Opening a drawer, she took out a letter.
8 VERB If you take something from someone who owns it, you steal it or go away with it without their permission. □ [V n] He has taken my money, and I have no chance of getting it back.
9 VERB If an army or political party takes something or someone, they win them from their enemy or opponent. □ [V n] Marines went in, taking 15 prisoners.
10 VERB If you take one number or amount from another, you subtract it or deduct it. □ [V n + off ] Take off the price of the house, that's another hundred thousand.
11 VERB [no passive] If you cannot take something difficult, painful, or annoying, you cannot tolerate it without becoming upset, ill, or angry. □ [V n] Don't ever ask me to look after those kids again. I just can't take it!
12 VERB If you take something such as damage or loss, you suffer it, especially in war or in a battle. □ [V n] They have taken heavy casualties.
13 VERB [no passive] If something takes a certain amount of time, that amount of time is needed in order to do it. □ [V n n] Since the roads are very bad, the journey took us a long time. □ [V n] I had heard an appeal could take years. □ [V n to-inf] The sauce takes 25 minutes to prepare and cook. □ [V n n to-inf] The game took her less than an hour to finish. □ [V n v-ing] You must beware of those traps–you could take all day getting out of them. □ [V n to-inf] It takes 15 minutes to convert the plane into a car by removing the wings and the tail. □ [V n n to-inf] It had taken Masters about twenty hours to reach the house. □ [V n for n to-inf] It took thirty-five seconds for the hour to strike.
14 VERB [no passive] If something takes a particular quality or thing, that quality or thing is needed in order to do it. □ [V n] At one time, walking across the room took all her strength. □ [V n to-inf] It takes courage to say what you think. □ [V n] It takes a pretty bad level of performance before the teachers will criticize the students.
15 VERB If you take something that is given or offered to you, you agree to accept it. □ [V n] His sons took his advice.
16 VERB If you take a feeling such as pleasure, pride, or delight in a particular thing or activity, the thing or activity gives you that feeling. □ [V n + in ] They take great pride in their heritage. □ [V n + from ] The government will take comfort from the latest opinion poll.