CARE  (kâr)
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abbr. Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
care  (kâr)
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n.1. a. A concerned or troubled state of mind, as that arising from serious responsibility; worry. b. An object or source of worry, attention, or solicitude: the many cares of a working parent. c. Interest, regard, or liking: did not show the least care for her. 2. a. Close attention, as in doing something well or avoiding harm: painted the trim with care. b. Upkeep; maintenance: a product for the care of fine floors; hair care products. c. Watchful oversight; charge or supervision: left the child in the care of a neighbor. 3. Attentive assistance or treatment to those in need: a hospital that provides emergency care. v. cared, car·ing, cares v.intr.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. 4. a. 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? v.tr.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.
[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 keys in my care; has charge of the library's rare books; took custody of the author's papers; left the canary in the neighbors' keeping; assumed supervision of the students; documents committed to the bank's trust. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices
Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:
Indo-European Roots
Semitic Roots
The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.
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