Takes stock is an idiom which means to assess a situation or take inventory of something. The crossword solutions for this term are rustles (7 letters), LADLES (6 letters), and LOOTS (5 letters). Rustles is a verb which means to make a light, dry crackling sound, usually associated with the movement of fabric or leaves. LADLES is a noun which refers to a large spoon with a long handle used for serving soup or other liquids. Lastly, LOOTS is a verb which means to steal or plunder.