Take in sailor's sphere (6)
I believe the answer is:
absorb
'take in' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'sailor's sphere' is the wordplay.
'sailor's' becomes 'ab's' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'sphere' becomes 'orb' (orb is a kind of sphere).
'abs'+'orb'='ABSORB'
(Other definitions for absorb that I've seen before include "Soak up - engross" , "Assimilate or soak up" , "Take or drink in" , "Carved figure" , "Become imbued" .)