uptakeup‧take /ˈʌpteɪk/ noun 
The uptake of some vaccinations fell as the media stirred up fears of possible side effects.3[countable, uncountable] the rate at which a substance is taken into the body, a system etc: the uptake of sugars by the blood
WORD ORIGINuptake
Origin:
1 1800-1900 Scottish English uptake ‘to understand’ (18-20 centuries). 2-3 1900-2000 up + takeEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The disease limits the uptake of water and nutrients into the tree.
- Among numerous negative results he found some quite simple compounds, aldehydes and fatty acids, which stimulated oxygen uptake.
- Disease activity must therefore be derived from the degree of abnormal bowel uptake on abdominal scans.
- Sarah wasn't slow on the uptake this time.
- Table 2.1 compares National Certificate uptake over the past three sessions.
Longman Language Activatorquick to understand or make decisions
intelligent and able to understand things quickly: · Some children in the class are quicker than others.· She's very quick and able -- seems to pick things up in no time.quick at (doing) something: · Craig was always quick at maths, but he had trouble with reading and writing.
someone who is sharp understands things very quickly, especially so that it is difficult to deceive or confuse them: · There's no point lying to her - she's much too sharp.razor sharp (=extremely sharp): · Those lawyers are razor sharp, and you've got to be careful about every single word you say.
able to understand things quickly and to answer people in an intelligent way: · John was always so quick-witted that I used to think he would have made a good secret agent.· Throughout a lifetime of public service, he proved himself a quick-witted negotiator.
a wise person makes good decisions and gives good advice, because they have a lot of experience of life - use this especially about older people: · She was a wise old woman, and we all valued her advice.· Burton didn't like what he was hearing, but he was wise enough to keep his thoughts to himself.
spoken informal someone who is quick on the uptake learns new things and understands a situation very quickly: · You're very quick on the uptake! How did you guess?· We're looking for new staff - people who are neat, enthusiastic and quick on the uptake.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES He’s a good interviewer, tough and quick on the uptake (=able to understand quickly what someone is saying).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
He’s a good interviewer, tough and quick on the uptake (=able to understand quickly what someone is saying).· I thought it would be evident; you are generally very quick on the uptake.
· Sarah wasn't slow on the uptake this time.· In fact I've had to conclude that I am generally rather slow on the uptake.· Could anyone really be that slow on the uptake? wondered Pascoe.· And so, finally, to Anthony O'Hear, intellectual and all-round clever fellow, albeit a bit slow on the uptake.· A bit slow on the uptake, you might think, Haringey's finance department.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1be slow/quick on the uptake informal to be slow or fast at understanding something2[singular] the number of people who use a service or accept something that is offered: - A bit slow on the uptake, you might think, Haringey's finance department.
- And so, finally, to Anthony O'Hear, intellectual and all-round clever fellow, albeit a bit slow on the uptake.
- Could anyone really be that slow on the uptake? wondered Pascoe.
- In fact I've had to conclude that I am generally rather slow on the uptake.
- Sarah wasn't slow on the uptake this time.
The uptake of some vaccinations fell as the media stirred up fears of possible side effects.3[countable, uncountable] the rate at which a substance is taken into the body, a system etc: the uptake of sugars by the blood