Also Sc. uptak’, north. dial. uptack. [UP- 2. Cf. ON. and Icel. upptak neut., upptaka fem.]
1. The action of, or capacity for, understanding: comprehension. Usu. gleg (quick, slow, etc.) in the uptake. Orig. (and still chiefly) Sc.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., vii. Everybody’s no sae gleg at the uptake as ye are yoursell.
1847. W. E. Aytoun, Dreepdaily Burghs, iv. ‘I really do not understand you, gentlemen! ‘Troth, then, ye’re slow at the uptak.’
1871. Alexander, Johnny Gibb, x. I’m nae sayin’ ’t Benjie hisna a better uptak’ nor the like o’ him.
1878. A. Paul, Random Writ., 112. Children are very quick in the uptake.
2. = TAKE-UP sb. 4.
1839. R. S. Robinson, Naut. Steam Eng., 129. The uptake, communicating from each boiler, in the common funnel.
1859. W. Rankine, Steam-Engine, 451. A chamber called the smoke box, or uptake, in which the various flues terminate.
1887. Encycl. Brit., XXII. 499/1. The uptakes from both ends converge to the funnel base above the centre of the boiler’s length.
3. A ventilating shaft by which foul air ascends.
1889. Welch, Text Bk. Naval Archit., xii. 132. Advantage is taken of the hollow towing bollards … to utilise these also as uptakes.
1908. Animal Managem., 248. Permanent air funnels … sbould be arranged in pairs,… thus furnishing an up-take and down draught (outlet and inlet).
4. An upward draught or current of air.
1887. R. Abercromby, Weather, 79. To assume that the ascensional uptake in front of the main body of the shower is as unsteady as the surface-wind. Ibid., 126. Where the uptake is less strong.
