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• take-in
  take-in

  noun

  a deception, fraud, or imposition.
• take in
  take in

  verb

  to comprehend or understand

take-in

American  

[teyk-in] / ˈteɪkˌɪn /

noun

Informal.

1. a deception, fraud, or imposition.

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take in British  

verb

1. to comprehend or understand

2. to include or comprise

   his thesis takes in that point

3. to receive into one's house in exchange for payment

   to take in washing

   take in lodgers

4. to make (an article of clothing, etc) smaller by altering seams

5. to include

   the tour takes in the islands as well as the mainland

6. informal to cheat or deceive

7. to go to; visit

   let's take in a movie tonight

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noun

1. informal the act or an instance of cheating or deceiving

take in Idioms  

1. Admit, receive as a guest or employee, as in They offered to take in two of the orphaned children . [First half of 1500s]

2. Reduce in size, make smaller or shorter, as in I've lost some weight so I'll have to take in my clothes . [Early 1500s]

3. Include or constitute, as in This list takes in all the members, past and present . [Mid-1600s]

4. Understand, as in I couldn't take in all that French dialogue in the movie . [Second half of 1600s]

5. Deceive, swindle, as in That alleged fundraiser took me in completely . [First half of 1700s]

6. Look at thoroughly, as in We want to take in all the sights . [First half of 1700s]

7. Accept work to be done at home, as in His grandmother took in washing to support her children . [First half of 1800s]

8. Receive as proceeds, as in We had a good audience; how much did we take in? [Late 1800s] Also see the following entries beginning with take in .

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Etymology

Origin of take-in

First recorded in 1770–80; noun use of verb phrase take in

Example Sentences

Take in a little tennis If this is really my ideal Sunday, I’d get up and hopefully play tennis with my wife, my son and my friend Bill Hanson for a couple of hours.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2025

Take in the whole scene together and a picture emerges of a delicate climatological and ecological balance on Arrakis.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2024

Take in any negative feedback gracefully, keep it in mind for future travels and do your best to ensure that everyone gets the most out of the trip they’re on.

From Washington Post • May 12, 2022

The 100-strong group covered The Police's Every Breath You Take in December 2020 to raise money to support the mental health of ICU staff, who had spent much of the year battling coronavirus.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2021

Take in clean air before I speak again.

From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell

Related Words

• absorb
• receive