1. Capturing interest; fetching: a taking smile.
2. Contagious; catching. Used of an infectious disease.

1. The act of one that takes.
2. Something taken, as a catch of fish.
3. takings Informal. Receipts, especially of money.
4. Law. A government action assuming ownership of real property by eminent domain.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.