taking

Taking is the act of obtaining possession or reception of something, typically by grasping, removing, or accepting it. The concept spans a wide range of everyday and specialized uses, from physically taking an object to adopting actions, decisions, or plans. The term derives from the verb take and appears in many languages with cognate forms in Germanic tongues.

In linguistics, taking is the gerund or present participle form of the verb take, used to nominalize activities, as in taking a photograph or taking notes. In media contexts, a "take" is a version of a performance or recording, and multiple takes may be produced before a final version is chosen.

In law, takings refer to government appropriation or regulation of private property, governed in the United States by the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, which requires just compensation when a taking is for a public purpose. The concept is central to debates on property rights and regulatory action.

In common usage, taking often means consuming or administering something, such as taking medication or taking a dose. It also appears in everyday phrases about travel or participation, as in taking a bus or taking part in an activity, or taking on responsibilities.