takeout

or take-out

[ teyk-out ]

/ ˈteɪkˌaʊt /

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noun

the act or fact of taking out.

something made to be taken out, especially food prepared in a store or restaurant to be carried out for consumption elsewhere.

Informal. a store, restaurant, or counter specializing in preparing food meant to be carried out for consumption elsewhere.

a section, as of a magazine, that may be removed intact, usually consisting of a story, article, or set of illustrations.

Also called takedown, takeout loan, takeout mortgage. Finance. a long-term real-estate mortgage arranged for a building the construction of which is financed by an interim short-term loan (construction loan ).

Cards.

Bridge. a bid in a suit or denomination different from the one bid by one's partner.
Poker. the minimum with which a player can begin.

adjective

pertaining to or supplying food and drink to be taken out and consumed elsewhere: the takeout window of a restaurant.

Also takedown. of, relating to, or providing a takeout mortgage: The high-rise developer has found a takeout commitment from a large insurance company.

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Origin of takeout

First recorded in 1915–20; noun use of verb phrase take out

Words nearby takeout

take one's medicine, take one's time, take one's word for, take on faith, take on oneself, takeout, takeout double, take out of, takeover, take pains, take part

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use takeout in a sentence

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the restaurant was closed for dine-in, but their takeout service was flawless.
A day’s drive from Chicago, exploring a very different Illinois|Carson Vaughan|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
Outdoor restaurant dining may still be too risky with new virus variants, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get takeout, go to the park, and see people.
The Most Practical Outdoor Dining Outfit Is a Snuggie|Jaya Saxena|February 9, 2021|Eater
Delivery, takeout options and outdoor dining options are highlighted on each map point.
24 Exciting Ways to Eat in Park City Right Now|Katie Shapiro|February 4, 2021|Eater
Now that vaccines for the coronavirus are available, we can anticipate some sort of “new normal,” including dining in restaurants rather than “streateries” or eating takeout food at home.
Sommeliers have been forced to pivot in the pandemic, and their futures remain uncertain|Dave McIntyre|February 4, 2021|Washington Post

The pair reopened the restaurant in early May, offering takeout for the first time — but only to guests who ordered ahead online.
Restaurants Avoiding Big Delivery Apps Have to Get Creative|Kristen Hawley|February 1, 2021|Eater
One donor complains about the takeout chicken pot pies served at a Karl Rove-hosted confab.
Speed Read: Kenneth Vogel’s ‘Big Money’ Shows How PACs Control Politics|William O’Connor|June 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The typical American eats takeout breakfast in his car about eight times per year.
Can This Waffle Save America?|Daniel Gross|August 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Plastic-foam containers are used for everything from awful conference room coffee to Chinese takeout.
Bloomberg Crosses the Thin Foam Line|Ilana Glazer|February 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In Manhattan, where I grew up, people seemed to eat a lot of takeout, or prepared foods from places like Zabars and Fairway.
Friday Forum: How often do you cook?|Megan McArdle|January 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I added some left-over roast brisket and a scoop of Chinese takeout rice, two favorites.
RIP Cobber|David Frum|October 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for takeout

take out

verb (tr, adverb)

to extract or remove

to obtain or secure (a licence, patent, etc) from an authority

to go out with; escortGeorge is taking Susan out next week

bridge to bid a different suit from (one's partner) in order to rescue him from a difficult contract

slang to kill or destroy

Australian informal to win, esp in sporthe took out the tennis championship

take it out of or take a lot out of informal to sap the energy or vitality of

take out on informal to vent (anger, frustration, etc) on (esp an innocent person)

take someone out of himself informal to make someone forget his anxieties, problems, etc

adjective takeout

bridge of or designating a conventional informatory bid, asking one's partner to bid another suit

US and Canadian sold for consumption away from the premises on which it is prepareda takeout meal

preparing and selling food for consumption away from the premisesa takeout Indian restaurant

noun takeout US and Canadian

a shop or restaurant that sells such foodlet's go to the Chinese takeout

a meal bought at such a shop or restaurantwe'll have a takeout tonight to save cooking

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with takeout

take out

Extract, remove, as in He should take out that splinter: [c. 1300]

Secure by applying to an authority, as in She took out a real estate license. [Late 1600s]

Escort on a date, as in He's been taking out a different girl every night of the week. [c. 1600]

Give vent to; see take it out on.

Carry away for use elsewhere, as in Can we get some pizza to take out?

Obtain as an equivalent in different form, as in We took out the money she owed us by having her baby-sit. [Early 1600s]

Set out, as in Jan and Herb took out for the beach, or The police took out after the suspects. [Mid-1800s]

Kill, destroy, as in Two snipers took out a whole platoon, or Flying low, the plane took out the enemy bunker in one pass. [1930s]

See under take out of.