take
verb
Your hand closes on something and pulls it to you, so now it is yours to hold, use, or carry along.
Where the picture shows up
- Take my hand and don't let go.the picture itselfGet hold of something with your hand. This is the picture itself: the hand closes and holds.
- Don't forget to take your keys with you.the picture itselfCarry something with you somewhere. You hold it, so it moves wherever you move.
- Take off your coat and sit down.the picture itselfRemove something from yourself. Your hand pulls it away from where it was, off you.
- Please take a seat.picture, stretchedSit down; use a place. You take the seat for yourself; for now it is yours.
- I usually take the train to work.picture, stretchedUse a vehicle or road to travel. You choose it and make it yours to use for the trip.
- It takes about two hours to fix.picture, stretchedNeed a certain time or effort. The job grabs hours for itself and uses them up.
- She took on too much work this year.picture, stretchedAccept a job or responsibility. You take the work onto yourself, like a load you carry.
- The wedding will take place in June.idiomHappen. No clear link to grabbing; just learn it as a fixed phrase.
Not the same as “bring”
Is it moving away from here (take) or toward here, where the speaker is (bring)?
Root
Late Old English 'tacan', borrowed from Old Norse 'taka', meaning 'to grab, seize, touch'. It replaced the older English verb 'niman'. Its origin before Norse is uncertain.