My apologies if this has been discussed before (or if this is a dumb question... I'm new to the series).

I'm wondering about the specifics of "taking" vs "stealing". For example at Arcadia's Cauldron in Whiterun, if I point the crosshair at certain objects the default action is "steal". For other objects the default action is "take". Am I still stealing if I "take"? Or does the word take imply that I have the shopkeeper's permission to just help myself to that particular object? Some objects at Dragonreach are also marked "take" (although most are "steal").

Just a detail I suppose but it annoys me not to know and I can't find the answer anywhere.

You are not stealing if you are taking...according to the cops. But I did get a trio of thugs sent after me for "taking" items from the general store in Riverwood so taking may be considered stealing by the item owner whoever that may be.

Wow. If it's stealing I wonder why the interface doesn't just say so.