WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

take over
    v 1: seize and take control without authority and possibly with
         force; take as one's right or possession; "He assumed to
         himself the right to fill all positions in the town"; "he
         usurped my rights"; "She seized control of the throne after
         her husband died" [syn: assume, usurp, seize, take
         over, arrogate]
    2: take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities; "When will
       the new President assume office?" [syn: assume, adopt,
       take on, take over]
    3: free someone temporarily from his or her obligations [syn:
       take over, relieve]
    4: take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person;
       "I'll accept the charges"; "She agreed to bear the
       responsibility" [syn: bear, take over, accept,
       assume]
    5: take over ownership of; of corporations and companies [syn:
       take over, buy out, buy up]
    6: do over; "They would like to take it over again" [syn:
       repeat, take over]
    7: take up and practice as one's own [syn: adopt, borrow,
       take over, take up]
    8: take up, as of debts or payments; "absorb the costs for
       something" [syn: absorb, take over]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

78 Moby Thesaurus words for "take over":
   accept, acquire, admit, adopt, annex, appropriate, arrogate,
   assume, assume command, colonize, come by, come in for, conquer,
   copy, derive, derive from, drag down, draw, draw from, encroach,
   enslave, gain, get, get at, get hold of, glom on to, grab, have,
   have coming in, hog, imitate, indent, infringe, invade,
   jump a claim, lay hands on, make free with, make use of, mock,
   monopolize, mount the throne, obtain, occupy, overrun, pirate,
   plagiarize, play God, preempt, preoccupy, prepossess, pretend to,
   pull down, receive, requisition, secure, seize, seize power,
   seize the throne, simulate, sit on, spell, squat on, steal,
   subjugate, take, take all of, take charge, take command, take in,
   take it all, take on, take possession, take possession of,
   take the helm, take the lead, take up, trespass, usurp