Take a squint in Debrett's (4)
I believe the answer is:
peer
'take' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with perception as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for peer that I've seen before include "Member of the nobility" , "unelected politician" , "role in Iolanthe" , "Person of equal standing" , "Fellow" .)