intake
Americannoun
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the place or opening at which a fluid is taken into a channel, pipe, etc.
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an act or instance of taking in.
an intake of oxygen.
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something that is taken in.
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a quantity taken in.
an intake of 50 gallons a minute.
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a narrowing; contraction.
noun
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a thing or a quantity taken in
an intake of students
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the act of taking in
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the opening through which fluid enters a duct or channel, esp the air inlet of a jet engine
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a ventilation shaft in a mine
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a contraction or narrowing
an intake in a garment
Etymology
Origin of intake
First recorded in 1515–25; noun use of verb phrase take in
Explanation
The act of consuming food can be called intake. A veterinarian might advise you to limit your dog's intake of pizza crusts, for example. While the process of eating can be called your intake, unless you're a militant dieter who weighs every ounce of food you consume, you're most likely to hear the word intake in a hospital or doctor's office. Caregivers might be concerned about a patient's intake of calories if he's very sick, or a dietitian might recommend an elderly woman increase her intake of calcium.
Vocabulary lists containing intake
"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 2
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Articles on Nutrition
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There is an intake of breath from the crowd every time he gets the ball at Etihad Stadium.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
The analysts cite several challenges for CPG companies that could be structural, like a drag on volume from slower population growth and a demand shock as the rise of GLP-1 drugs reduces calorie intake.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
The latest study into the effects of diets heavy in highly processed foods shows that the risks of serious heart problems increase as intake rises.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
Hagerman explained that this likely reflects more consistent tracking rather than increased food intake, since people often log their meals less reliably on weekends.
From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026
“And what if you had three wishes?” the intake worker asked.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
