Meaning

• To pick up.

  "The reel automatically took up the slack."

• To begin doing (an activity) on a regular basis.

  "I wish to take up mathematics."

• To address (an issue).

  "Let's take this up with the manager."

• To occupy; to consume (space or time).

  "All my time is taken up with looking after the kids."

• To shorten by hemming.

  "If we take up the sleeves a bit, that shirt will look much better on you."

• To remove the surface or bed of a road.

• (with 'on') To accept (a proposal, offer, request, etc.) from.

  "Shall we take them up on their offer to help us move?"

• To resume.

  "let's take up where we left off"

• To implement, to employ, to put into use.

Meaning

• The act of taking something up, by tightening, absorption, or reeling in.

• (machinery) That which takes up or tightens; specifically, a device in a sewing machine or loom for drawing up the slack thread as the needle rises, in completing a stitch.

• Acceptance (of a proposal, offer, request, etc.).

  "the take-up of benefits by the unemployed"