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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 movie at Universal CityWalk Since I’m in Studio City and my group of friends and I are all AMC Stubs A-List members, I’d go to Universal CityWalk to catch a movie.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2025

Take in the full pastry counter and it’s easy to see why someone would want to sample one of each, as no two pastries are alike.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2023

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 Dickinson’s Store for a taste of an old-fashioned general store and to pick up provisions for a picnic.

From Washington Post • Jun. 3, 2021

Take in clean air before I speak again.

From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell

Related Words

• absorb
• receive