1 N‑COUNT A takeout is a store or restaurant which sells hot cooked food that you eat somewhere else. [AM ] in BRIT, use takeaway 2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] A takeout or takeout food is hot cooked food which you buy from a store or restaurant and eat somewhere else. [AM ] in BRIT, use takeaway
take|over ◆◇◇ /te I koʊvə r / (takeovers )
1 N‑COUNT A takeover is the act of gaining control of a company by buying more of its shares than anyone else. [BUSINESS ] □ [+ of ] …the government's takeover of the corporation.
2 N‑COUNT A takeover is the act of taking control of a country, political party, or movement by force. □ There's been a military takeover of some kind. SYNONYMS takeover NOUN 1
merger: …the proposed merger of two Japanese banks.
coup: …a military coup.
incorporation: …the incorporation of Piedmont Airlines and PSA into U.S. Air.
tak|er /te I kə r / (takers ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] If there are no takers for something such as an investment or a challenge, nobody is willing to accept it. □ Over 100 buyers or investors were approached, but there were no takers. [Also + for ]
-taker /-te I kə r / (-takers ) COMB -taker combines with nouns to form other nouns which refer to people who take things, for example decisions or notes. □ Of these, 40% told census-takers they were Muslims. □ They've got some terrific penalty-takers.
ta ke-up N‑UNCOUNT Take-up is the rate at which people apply for or buy something which is offered, for example financial help from the government or shares in a company. [mainly BRIT ] □ [+ of ] …a major campaign to increase the take-up of welfare benefits.
tak|ings /te I k I ŋz/ N‑PLURAL You can use takings to refer to the amount of money that a business such as a shop or a cinema gets from selling its goods or tickets during a particular period. [BUSINESS ] □ The pub said that their takings were fifteen to twenty thousand pounds a week.
talc /tæ lk/ N‑UNCOUNT Talc is the same as talcum powder . [INFORMAL ]
tal|cum pow|der /tæ lkəm paʊ də r / N‑UNCOUNT Talcum powder is fine powder with a pleasant smell which people put on their bodies after they have had a bath or a shower.
tale ◆◇◇ /te I l/ (tales )
1 N‑COUNT A tale is a story, often involving magic or exciting events. □ …a collection of stories, poems and folk tales.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to an interesting, exciting, or dramatic account of a real event as a tale . □ [+ of ] The media have been filled with tales of horror and loss resulting from Monday's earthquake.
3 → see also fairy tale , old wives' tale , tall tale
4 PHRASE If you survive a dangerous or frightening experience and so are able to tell people about it afterwards, you can say that you lived to tell the tale . □ You lived to tell the tale this time but who knows how far you can push your luck.
5 PHRASE If someone tells tales about you, they tell other people things about you which are untrue or which you wanted to be kept secret. □ I hesitated, not wanting to tell tales about my colleague.
6 → see also tell-tale SYNONYMS tale NOUN 1
story: The second story in the book is titled 'The Scholar'.
account: He gave a detailed account of what happened on the fateful night.
narrative: Sloan began his narrative with the day of the murder.
anecdote: Pete was telling them an anecdote about their mother.
tal|ent ◆◇◇ /tæ lənt/ (talents )
1 N‑VAR Talent is the natural ability to do something well. □ The player was given hardly any opportunities to show off his talents. □ He's got lots of talent.
2 → see also talent show COLLOCATIONS talent NOUN
adjective + talent : exceptional, outstanding, prodigious; artistic, creative, musical, vocal; emerging, home-grown, natural
verb + talent : develop, display; nurture, spot
tal|ent|ed /tæ lənt I d/ ADJ Someone who is talented has a natural ability to do something well. □ Howard is a talented pianist.
ta l|ent scout (talent scouts ) N‑COUNT A talent scout is someone whose job is to find people who have talent, for example as actors, footballers, or musicians, so that they can be offered work.
ta l|ent show (talent shows ) N‑COUNT A talent show , talent competition , or talent contest is a show where ordinary people perform an act on stage, usually in order to try to win a prize for the best performance.
tal|is|man /tæ l I zmən/ (talismans ) N‑COUNT A talisman is an object which you believe has magic powers to protect you or bring you luck.
talk ◆◆◆ /tɔː k/ (talks , talking , talked )
1 VERB When you talk , you use spoken language to express your thoughts, ideas, or feelings. □ [V ] He was too distressed to talk. □ [V ] The boys all began to talk at once. ● N‑UNCOUNT Talk is also a noun. □ That's not the kind of talk one usually hears from accountants.
2 VERB If you talk to someone, you have a conversation with them. You can also say that two people talk . □ [V ] We talked and laughed a great deal. □ [V + to/with ] I talked to him yesterday. □ [V + about ] When she came back, they were talking about American food. □ [V ] Can't you see I'm talking? Don't interrupt. ● N‑COUNT Talk is also a noun. □ [+ about ] We had a long talk about her father, Tony, who was a friend of mine.