take-up

1. 1.

   any of various devices for reducing slack (as in a sewing machine) or taking up motion (as in a loom)

   “a take-up that winds photographic film on a spool”

   Broaderdevice
2. 2.

   the action of taking up as by tightening or absorption or reeling in

   Broadertightening

Questions about take-up

What does take-up mean?

take-up means "any of various devices for reducing slack (as in a sewing machine) or taking up motion (as in a loom)". That is the primary sense; the word has 2 in total, listed in full on this page.

How many syllables are in take-up?

take-up has 3 syllables and divides as ta-ke--up under the regular spelling rules. It is not in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary, so that comes from how the word is written rather than from a recorded pronunciation, and no stress or phonetic transcription is claimed for it.