take in

verb

1. 1

   make (clothes) smaller

   Please take in this skirt--I've lost weight

2. 2

   take into one's family

   They adopted two children from Nicaragua

3. 3

   take up mentally

   he absorbed the knowledge or beliefs of his tribe

4. 4

   fool or hoax

   The immigrant was duped because he trusted everyone

   You can't fool me!

5. 5

   serve oneself to, or consume regularly

   Have another bowl of chicken soup!

   I don't take sugar in my coffee

6. 6

   take up as if with a sponge

7. 7

   fold up

   take in the sails

8. 8

   express willingness to have in one's home or environs

   The community warmly received the refugees

9. 9

   take in, also metaphorically

   The sponge absorbs water well

   She drew strength from the minister's words

10. 10

    accept

    The cloth takes up the liquid

11. 11

    see or watch

    view a show on television

    This program will be seen all over the world

12. 12

    hear, usually without the knowledge of the speakers

    We overheard the conversation at the next table