What is the meaning of take up?

verb

• Pursue or resume.
  • usage: "take up a matter for consideration"
• Adopt.
  • usage: "take up new ideas"
  • synonyms: latch on, fasten on, hook on, seize on
• Turn one's interest to.
  • usage: "He took up herpetology at the age of fifty"
• Take up time or space.
  • usage: "take up the slack"
• Begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job.
  • usage: "Take up a position"; "start a new job"
  • synonyms: start
• Take up and practice as one's own.
  • synonyms: adopt, borrow, take over
• Occupy or take on.
  • usage: "He assumes the lotus position"; "She took her seat on the stage"; "We took our seats in the orchestra"; "She took up her position behind the tree"; "strike a pose"
  • synonyms: assume, take, strike
• Take up a liquid or a gas either by adsorption or by absorption.
  • synonyms: sorb
• Take out or up with or as if with a scoop.
  • usage: "scoop the sugar out of the container"
  • synonyms: scoop, scoop out, lift out, scoop up
• Accept.
  • usage: "The cloth takes up the liquid"
  • synonyms: take in
• Take in, also metaphorically.
  • usage: "The sponge absorbs water well"; "She drew strength from the minister's words"
  • synonyms: absorb, suck, imbibe, soak up, sop up, suck up, draw, take in
• Take up as if with a sponge.
  • synonyms: take in, sop up, suck in
• Return to a previous location or condition.
  • usage: "The painting resumed its old condition when we restored it"
  • synonyms: resume