Source : WordNet®

take up
     v 1: pursue or resume; "take up a matter for consideration"
     2: adopt; "take up new 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"
     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; "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";
        "strike a pose" [syn: {assume}, {take}, {strike}]
     8: take up a liquid or a gas either by adsorption or by
        absorption [syn: {sorb}]
     9: take out or up with or as if with a scoop; "scoop the sugar
        out of the container" [syn: {scoop}, {scoop out}, {lift
        out}, {scoop up}]
     10: accept; "The cloth takes up the liquid" [syn: {take in}]
     11: take in, also metaphorically; "The sponge absorbs water
         well"; "She drew strength from the minister's words"
         [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}]