1. the action of taking up
2. pick up, lift
took up the carpet
3. to begin to occupy (land)
4. to gather from a number of sources
took up a collection
5. to accept or adopt for the purpose of assisting
6. to accept or adopt as one's own
took up the life of a farmer
7. to absorb or incorporate into itself
plants taking up nutrients
8. to enter upon (something, such as a business, hobby, or subject of study)
take up skiing took up the trumpet
9. to proceed to consider or deal with
take up one problem at a time
10. to establish oneself in
took up residence in town
11. to occupy entirely or exclusively fill up
the meeting was taken up with old business
12. to make tighter or shorter
take up the slack
13. to respond favorably to (a person offering a bet, challenge, proposal, etc.)
took me up on it
14. to begin again or take over from another
we must take the good work up again
15. to make a beginning where another has left off
16. to become shortened draw together shrink
17. to engage vigorously in a defense or dispute
18. to become interested or absorbed in
19. to begin to associate or consort with
20. the rate at which something offered is accepted by people
21. to absorb or incorporate into itself
the rate at which the cells took up glucose
22. to pay the amount of (as a note) pay in full for
23. to proceed to deal with
take up a motion