take in

1) PHRASAL VERB If you take someone in, you allow them to stay in your house or your country, especially when they do not have anywhere to stay or are in trouble.

[V n P] He persuaded Jo to take him in...

[V P n (not pron)] The monastery has taken in 26 refugees.

2) PHRASAL VERB If the police take someone in, they remove them from their home in order to question them.

[V n P] The police have taken him in for questioning in connection with the murder of a girl. [Also V P n (not pron)]

3) PHRASAL VERB If you are taken in by someone or something, you are deceived by them, so that you get a false impression of them.

[be V-ed P] I married in my late teens and was taken in by his charm - which soon vanished...

[V n P] I know I was a naive fool to trust him but he is a real charmer who totally took me in. [Also V P n (not pron)]

4) PHRASAL VERB If you take something in, you pay attention to it and understand it when you hear it or read it.

[V n P] Lesley explains possible treatments but you can tell she's not taking it in...

[V P n (not pron)] Gazing up into his eyes, she seemed to take in all he said.

5) PHRASAL VERB If you take something in, you see all of it at the same time or with just one look.

[V P n (not pron)] The eyes behind the lenses were dark and quick-moving, taking in everything at a glance. [Also V n P]

6) PHRASAL VERB: no passive If you take in something such as a film or a museum, you go to see it. [INFORMAL]

[V P n (not pron)] I was wondering if you might want to take in a movie with me this evening. [Also V n P]

7) PHRASAL VERB If people, animals, or plants take in air, drink, or food, they allow it to enter their body, usually by breathing or swallowing.

[V P n (not pron)] They will certainly need to take in plenty of liquid. [Also V n P]

8) PHRASAL VERB: no passive If one thing takes in another, it is big enough to include the other thing within it.

[V P n (not pron)] Ethiopia's large territorial area takes in a population of more than 40 million people. [Also V n P]

9) PHRASAL VERB If you take in a dress, jacket, or other item of clothing, you make it smaller and tighter.

[V P n (not pron)] She had taken in the grey dress so that it hugged her thin body. [Also V n P]

Ant:

let out

10) PHRASAL VERB If a store, restaurant, theatre, or other business takes in a certain amount of money, they get that amount from people buying goods or services. [mainly AM]

[V P amount] They plan to take in $1.6 billion.

(in BRIT, usually use take)