Article from Katz's Film Encyclopedia.
For more definitions of cinema terms see Glossary of Audio & Video Media Terminology.
A single continuous take, filmed in a single session from one camera setup. The basic grammatical unit of the language of film, a shot may range from a single frame taken from a fixed position to a setup involving complex camera movement.
Take
A single continuous shot taken by a motion picture camera without any interruption or break. A film director may order any number of successive takes of the same action until he is satisfied he has got a perfect shot. Each take of a scene is numbered sequentially on a slate which is held in front of the camera and photographed for the purpose of identification in the cutting room. The selected take is printed and incorporated into the work print.