care1
/kɛː
/noun [mass noun]
1The provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something: the care of the elderly the child is in the care of her grandparents health care...
- After providing people with necessary medical care, the troops gave away the food and drinks.
- Reducing cost of venous disease management and improving quality of care are necessary.
- Delegates also called for improved services for pensioners in health, social care and transport.
Synonyms
safe keeping, supervision, custody, charge, protection, keeping, keep, control, management, ministration, guidance, superintendence, tutelage, aegis, responsibility;
guardianship, wardship, trusteeship, trust;
provision of care, looking after;
parenting, mothering, fathering
concern, consideration, attention, attentiveness, thought, regard, mind, notice, heed, solicitude, interest, caringness, sympathy, respect;
looking after
1.1British Protective custody or guardianship provided by a local authority for children whose parents are dead or unable to look after them properly: she was taken into care children in care...
- Hundreds of Bradford's children in care and their foster parents will watch Bradford Bulls matches this season for free.
- The youngster alleged that one of his teachers told him he would be taken into care if his parents did not fill in a form to explain an absence from school.
- From this it may be seen that a decision whether or not to take a child said to have been abused away from its natural parents and into care may often be acutely difficult.
2Serious attention or consideration applied to doing something correctly or to avoid damage or risk: he planned his departure with great care...
- I tried to answer every question with much care, considering the risk to my life.
- Roll-up smoking seems to be an activity rather than an addiction - each lovingly rolled with care and attention.
- Wash your garment with care and avoid scrubbing excessively to prevent damaging it.
Synonyms
caution, carefulness, wariness, awareness, heedfulness, heed, attention, attentiveness, alertness, watchfulness, vigilance, circumspection, prudence, guardedness, observance
discretion, judiciousness, forethought, thought, regard, heed, mindfulness;
conscientiousness, painstakingness, pains, effort, meticulousness, punctiliousness, fastidiousness;
accuracy, precision
2.1 [count noun] An object of concern or attention: the cares of family life...
- Compassion begins from where we are, from the circle of our cares and concerns.
- I have a few stupid movies to watch, and my plan is to put her down and unplug from all cares and concerns.
- Yet he understands that the Parkhead side will arrive with their own baggage, their own cares and concerns.
2.2 [count noun] A feeling of or occasion for anxiety: she was driving along without a care in the world...
- To those worn by cares and anxieties it is a resort for temporary respite.
- The beautiful, isolated surroundings of the moors also play a vital part in helping guests leave behind the cares and worries of everyday life, Jan admits.
- But she's also got a knack for handling your cares and worries and, when it's all too much, your tears.
Synonyms
worry, anxiety, trouble, disquiet, disquietude, bother, unease, upset, distress, concern;
sorrow, anguish, grief, sadness, affliction, woe, hardship, tribulation, suffering, pain, torment, misery, angst;
responsibility, stress, pressure, strain, perturbation, burdens
verb [no object]
1 [often with negative] Feel concern or interest; attach importance to something: they don’t care about human life [with clause]: I don’t care what she says...
- It's not a great plot - a little cheesy, but enough for us to care about and stay interested in the film.
- Either way, it would be in their best interest to care about you, the student, and respond.
- It piqued my interest enough to care about where this story, and these characters, are going.
Synonyms
be concerned, worry (oneself), trouble oneself, bother, mind;
concern oneself with, be interested in, interest oneself in, trouble oneself with, have regard for, burden oneself with
informal give a damn, give a hoot, give a rap, give a hang, give a tinker's curse/damn, give a monkey's, lose sleep over, get worked up
1.1Feel affection or liking: you care very deeply for him...
- And regardless of what happened with Jude, I know he cares about you and I can see that you care for him.
- He who cares even for the sparrows will certainly care for us.
- Though she doesn't care for her spot as to the Gaya throne, she cares deeply for her people.
Synonyms
love, be fond of, feel affection for, cherish, hold dear, treasure, prize, adore, dote on, think the world of, worship, idolize, be devoted to;
be in love with
1.2 (care for/to do something) Like or be willing to do or have something: would you care for some tea?...
- He had a keen interest in golf and indeed passed his vast knowledge of the game to anyone caring to listen.
- And for anyone who cares to listen, BBC world have a Kazakh language service available.
- These sections have been defending rights of minorities in abstract secular terms, without caring to examine whether the purpose of secularism i.e. equality of treatment by the State is being achieved.
Synonyms
like, wish for, want, desire, prefer, fancy, have a fancy for, take a fancy to, feel like
informal have a yen for
2 (care for) Look after and provide for the needs of: he has numerous animals to care for...
- It will provide volunteers for anyone caring for a child under five who is finding the going tough.
- A drop-in centre will provide respite for youngsters caring for a sick parent or sibling.
- But the report seems to overlook the security that being cared for by a grandparent provides.
Phrases
care in the community
care of
I (or he, she, etc.) couldn't (informal also could) care less
for all you care (or he, she, etc. cares)
have a care
take care
take care of
Origin
Old English caru (noun), carian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Old High German chara 'grief, lament', charon 'grieve', and Old Norse kǫr 'sickbed'.
Rhymes
CARE2
/ker
/abbreviation
Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere, a large private organization that provides emergency and long-term assistance to people in need throughout the world.