| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| PRONUNCIATION: |  kâr |
| NOUN: | 1. A burdened state of mind, as that arising from heavy responsibilities; worry. 2. Mental suffering; grief. 3. An object or source of worry, attention, or solicitude: the many cares of a working parent. 4. Caution in avoiding harm or danger: handled the crystal bowl with care. 5a. Close attention; painstaking application: painting the window frames and sashes with care. b. Upkeep; maintenance: a product for the care of fine floors; hair care products. 6. Watchful oversight; charge or supervision: left the child in the care of a neighbor. 7. Attentive assistance or treatment to those in need: a hospital that provides emergency care. | | VERB: | Inflected forms: cared, car·ing, cares
| | INTRANSITIVE VERB: | 1. To be concerned or interested: Once inside, we didn't care whether it rained or not. 2. To provide needed assistance or watchful supervision: cared for the wounded; caring for an aged relative at home. 3. To object or mind: If no one cares, I'll smoke. 4a. To have a liking or attachment: didn't care for the movie. b. To have a wish; be inclined: Would you care for another helping? | | TRANSITIVE VERB: | 1. To wish; desire: Would you care to dance? 2. To be concerned to the degree of: I don't care a bit what critics think. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, from Old English cearu. | | SYNONYMS: | care, charge, custody, keeping, supervision, trust These nouns refer to the function of watching, guarding, or overseeing: left the house keys in my care; has charge of all rare books in the library; had custody of his children; left the canary in the neighbors' keeping; assumed supervision of the students; documents committed to the bank's trust. See also synonyms at anxiety.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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