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definitions

takeaway

or take-a·way

[teyk-uh-wey]
noun
  1. something taken back or away, especially an employee benefit that is eliminated or substantially reduced by the terms of a union contract.
  2. conclusions, impressions, or action points resulting from a meeting, discussion, roundtable, or the like: The takeaway was that we had to do a lot more work on the proposal before it could be shown to the governing board.
  3. Chiefly British.
    1. a takeout restaurant: Let's pick something up at the Indian takeaway.
    2. food from a takeout restaurant: I get Chinese takeaway at least once a week.
  4. Sports.
    1. (in hockey and football) the act of getting the puck or ball away from the team on the offense: The problem with most hockey statistics is they are not very consistent in how they determine takeaways and giveaways.
    2. (in golf) a backswing: I got him a video entitled “Improving the Takeaway in Your Golf Swing” for his birthday.
adjective
  1. of or relating to what is or can be taken away: a list of takeaway proposals presented by management.
  2. Chiefly British. takeout(def 7).

Origin of takeaway

1930–35 for earlier sense “train car for carrying logs”; 1960–65 for def 5; take + away
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for take-away

Contemporary Examples of take-away

  • It is thought he went for the take-away after watching England qualify for next year's World Cup at a mate's house in Fulham.

    The Daily Beast logo
    Harry's Late Night Trip To Nando's

    Tom Sykes

    October 17, 2013

  • And after dinner, there was no woman too serious to enjoy a take-away carton of cakes and cookies.

    The Daily Beast logo
    Women in the World: Day One

    Olivia Cole

    March 13, 2010

Historical Examples of take-away

Word Origin and History for take-away

takeaway

also take-away, 1964 (adj.), 1970 (n.), from take (v.) + away.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper