to agree to (a task or undertaking)
to engage (staff, etc)
to assume (an appearance or quality)
informal to become emotional or distraught
to agree to (a task or undertaking)
to contend with or challenge (an opponent or rival)
to engage or hire (somebody as staff, etc)
to assume or acquire (e.g. an appearance or quality)
The city takes on a carnival air at New Year
informal to become emotional or distraught
They cried and took on something terrible — Bob Hope