intake
B1Neutral to formal. Common in technical, educational, medical, and administrative contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The process of taking something (like food, air, or new people) in.
1. The act of consuming or absorbing. 2. A group of people (e.g., students, recruits) admitted at the same time. 3. An opening through which something (like air, water, or fuel) enters a system. 4. The amount or number taken in.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. When referring to people (e.g., student intake), it implies a collective group for a specific period. In mechanical contexts, it refers to a physical structure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. Slight preference in British English for 'intake' in educational/administrative contexts (e.g., 'school intake'). In American English, 'intake' for machinery (e.g., 'air intake') is very common.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. In medical/nutritional contexts, can imply monitoring or control (e.g., 'calorie intake').
Frequency
Comparably frequent. Slightly more common in UK administrative language.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Intake of + NOUN (e.g., intake of calories)Adjective + intake (e.g., high intake)Verb + intake (e.g., monitor your intake)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific. Used in fixed phrases like 'intake of breath' (a sharp inhalation, often showing surprise).]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Referring to the recruitment of new employees or trainees (e.g., 'This year's graduate intake').
Academic
Used for student admissions cohorts or in scientific contexts for measured consumption (e.g., 'dietary intake').
Everyday
Most common in health/nutrition (e.g., 'sugar intake') or car mechanics (e.g., 'check the air intake').
Technical
Precise point of entry for a fluid, gas, or fuel into an engine or system (e.g., 'the turbine's intake manifold').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [Rare as verb. Technical use: 'The engine intakes air efficiently.']
American English
- [Rare as verb. Technical use: 'The system intakes data from the sensor.']
adverb
British English
- [Not used as an adverb.]
American English
- [Not used as an adverb.]
adjective
British English
- [Used attributively: 'The intake pipe was blocked.', 'We reviewed the intake procedures.']
American English
- [Used attributively: 'The intake valve needs replacement.', 'All new hires attend intake orientation.']
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Drink more water — your fluid intake is low.
- The school has a big intake of new children every September.
- You should reduce your intake of sugary drinks.
- The car's air intake was clogged with leaves.
- The university reported a 10% increase in its international student intake this year.
- Monitoring your daily calorie intake is key to managing your weight.
- The engineer redesigned the cooling system's intake to improve its aerodynamic efficiency.
- The study correlated high sodium intake with an increased risk of hypertension.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a car's AIR INTAKE — it's where air is taken IN. Your food INTAKE is what you take IN.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY/MACHINE IS A CONTAINER (we monitor what goes into the container).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'впуск' (which is correct for mechanical intake) and 'приём' (for admission). 'Intake of students' is better translated as 'приём студентов' or 'набор', not 'впуск'. 'Food intake' is 'потребление пищи', not 'впуск еды'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'I intake water' is very rare/technical; use 'consume' or 'drink').
- Confusing 'intake' with 'input' in computing contexts (use 'input').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'intake' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost exclusively a noun in modern English. The verb form is rare, technical, and best avoided by learners. Use 'consume', 'take in', or 'absorb' instead.
'Intake' typically refers to the physical act or amount of taking something in (air, food, people). 'Input' is broader, often used for data, advice, or resources provided to a system or process.
Yes, commonly. It refers to a group admitted together, like 'this year's intake of trainees' or 'the September school intake'.
Stress on the first syllable: IN-take. The 'a' sounds like the 'a' in 'cake' (/eɪ/).
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