pursue or resume; "take up a matter for consideration"
adopt; "take up new ideas"
turn one's interest to; "He took up herpetology at the age of fifty"
take up time or space; "take up the slack"
begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job; "Take up a position"; "start a new job"
take up and practice as one's own
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"
take up a liquid or a gas either by adsorption or by absorption
take out or up with or as if with a scoop; "scoop the sugar out of the container"
accept; "The cloth takes up the liquid"
take in, also metaphorically; "The sponge absorbs water well"; "She drew strength from the minister's words"
take up as if with a sponge
return to a previous location or condition; "The painting resumed its old condition when we restored it"