Intake
'ɪnteɪk
Definitions
3 meaningsThe amount of something taken in, especially air, food, or liquid.
'ɪnteɪk
The act of taking in something.
The athlete carefully tracked his daily caloric intake.
💡 Simply: Intake is like the amount of food or drinks you eat and drink, or the air you breathe. It's about taking things *in*.
👶 For kids: Intake is how much stuff you put inside your body, like food or water!
More Examples
The air intake on the machine was blocked.
The hospital reported a high intake of patients this month.
How It's Used
"Doctors monitor the patient's fluid intake."
"The engine's air intake is located on the front of the car."
"The company is managing new client intake procedures."
A place or structure through which something enters, such as air or water.
'ɪnteɪk
The place or structure where something enters.
The power plant’s water intake was located upstream.
💡 Simply: An intake can be a spot or a thing where something goes *in*. Like the part on your car that takes in air.
👶 For kids: It's like a door or a hole where things go in, like air to your engine.
More Examples
The air intake on the car was clogged with leaves.
The design of the air intake system had to be improved.
How It's Used
"The water intake of the dam provided a clear supply."
"The mechanic checked the engine's air intake."
To begin to use something.
'ɪnteɪk
To begin to use something
The company will intake a large number of employees next year.
💡 Simply: Intake can also mean to start to use a large quantity of something. For instance, the company might plan to intake new employees, or the university might be intaking new students.
👶 For kids: Intake can mean to start using things. You intake new friends into your friend circle!
More Examples
The university will intake students for the fall semester.
The system intaking new patients is under pressure.
How It's Used
"The company is taking on a large intake of new employees."
"The university's intake for the new semester started today."
Synonyms
Absorption
Consumption
Input
Access
Entry
Inlet
Accept
Admit
Enlist
From Middle English intaken, from in- + take. The sense of 'the act of taking in' developed in the 19th century.
The word 'intake' in the context of consumption began to appear more commonly in medical and dietary discussions in the early 20th century.