take up

verb

1. pursue or resume"take up a matter for consideration"
2. adopt"take up new ideas"
3. turn one's interest to"He took up herpetology at the age of fifty"
4. take up time or space"take up the slack"
5. begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job"Take up a position"
6. take up and practice as one's own
7. occupy or take on"He assumes the lotus position"
8. take up a liquid or a gas either by adsorption or by absorption
9. take out or up with or as if with a scoop"scoop the sugar out of the container"
10. accept"The cloth takes up the liquid"
11. take in, also metaphorically"The sponge absorbs water well"
12. take up as if with a sponge