• IPA: /ˈteɪkɪn/

take in (third-person singular simple present takes in, present participle taking in, simple past took in, past participle taken in)

1. (transitive) To absorb or comprehend.

   The news is a lot to take in right now.

   I was so sleepy that I hardly took in any of the lecture.

2. (transitive) To enjoy or appreciate.

   I'm just going to sit on a bench and take in the scenery.

   Just relax and take in the fresh ocean air.

3. (transitive) To allow a person or an animal to live in one's home.

   take in a stray cat

4. (transitive) To receive (goods) into one's home for the purpose of processing for a fee.

   In hard times, some women would take in washing and others dressmaking repairs.

5. (transitive) To shorten (a garment) or make it smaller.

   Antonyms: let out, let down

   Try taking the skirt in a little around the waist.

6. To attend a showing of.

   take in a show

   take in a movie

7. To deceive; to hoodwink.
8. (transitive, climbing) To tighten (a belaying rope).

   Synonyms: take up

9. (obsolete) To subscribe to home delivery of.
   • 1844 January 23, cross-examination in the case of R v Daniel O'Connell, et al., reprinted in, 1844, John Flanedy, editor, A Special Report of the Proceedings in the Case of the Queen against Daniel O'Connell […] on an Indictment for Conspiracy and Misdemeanour, page 218 :

     [James Whiteside:] May I ask what newspaper you take in? [John Jolly:] I take in no newspaper.

     [James Whiteside:] Well, then, what newspapers do you read? [John Jolly:] I am glad to see any of them.

10. (nautical) To reef.
    • 1840, R[ichard] H[enry] D[ana], Jr., “CHAPTER XXXV”, in Two Years before the Mast. […] (Harper’s Family Library; no. CVI), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers […], →OCLC ↗:

      The second mate holds on to the main top-gallant sail until a heavy sea is shipped, and washes over the forecastle as though the whole ocean had come aboard; when a noise further aft shows that that sail, too, is taking in.

11. (transitive) To arrest (a person).

    Synonyms: take up

    The police took in the suspect.

• French: absorber, assimiler
• Italian: impegnare, vincolare, assorbire, prendere

• Italian: accogliere, ospitare
• Portuguese: acolher
• Russian: приюти́ть
• Spanish: acoger, hospedar

• Italian: fare lavoretti in casa

• French: duper, rouler
• German: einwickeln
• Italian: imbrogliare, ingannare, abbindolare