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Definition of take on phrasal verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

take on

phrasal verb
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take on something
  1. [no passive] to begin to have a particular quality, appearance, etc.
    • The chameleon can take on the colours of its background.
    • His voice took on a more serious tone.
take somebody on
  1. (especially British English) to employ somebody
    • to take on new staff
    • She was taken on as a trainee.
  2. [no passive] to play against somebody in a game or contest; to fight against somebody
    • to take somebody on at tennis
    • The rebels took on the entire Roman army.
take something/somebody on
  1.  
     to decide to do something; to agree to be responsible for something/somebody
    • I can't take on any extra work.
    • We're not taking on any new clients at present.
  2. (of a bus, plane or ship) to allow somebody/something to enter
    • The bus stopped to take on more passengers.
    • The ship took on more fuel at Freetown.
See take on in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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