1 care
Pronounced:
/ˈkeɚ/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural caresMeaning:
1 [noncount] : effort made to do something correctly, safely, or without causing damage ▪ She used care in selecting a doctor for her son. ▪ a box marked “Handle With Care” [=handle carefully]
2 [noncount] a : things that are done to keep someone healthy, safe, etc. ▪ The children have inadequate medical care and little formal education. ▪ We need to provide poor people with better dental care. ▪ He is under a doctor's care. [=is being treated by a doctor] ▪ The boys were in the care of [=being looked after by] their grandparents. —see also day care, health care, intensive care, primary care acute care at acute b : things that are done to keep something in good condition ▪ She wrote a book about car care. ▪ With proper care, the machine should last a decade or more. ▪ She is an expert on skin/hair care. ▪ She knows a lot about the care and feeding of horses. ▪ These machines don't need a lot of care and feeding. [=maintenance]
3 [count] : something that causes you to feel worried or unhappy ▪ He acts as if he doesn't have a care in the world. [=as if he has no worries] ▪ She looks as if all the cares of the world are on her shoulders.
2 [noncount] a : things that are done to keep someone healthy, safe, etc. ▪ The children have inadequate medical care and little formal education. ▪ We need to provide poor people with better dental care. ▪ He is under a doctor's care. [=is being treated by a doctor] ▪ The boys were in the care of [=being looked after by] their grandparents. —see also day care, health care, intensive care, primary care acute care at acute b : things that are done to keep something in good condition ▪ She wrote a book about car care. ▪ With proper care, the machine should last a decade or more. ▪ She is an expert on skin/hair care. ▪ She knows a lot about the care and feeding of horses. ▪ These machines don't need a lot of care and feeding. [=maintenance]
3 [count] : something that causes you to feel worried or unhappy ▪ He acts as if he doesn't have a care in the world. [=as if he has no worries] ▪ She looks as if all the cares of the world are on her shoulders.
care of
: at the address of ▪ You can write to him care of his fan club. [=you can write to him by sending a letter to his fan club] —abbr. c/o
in/into care
Brit —used to describe children who are being cared for by a government organization because their parents have died or are unable to care for them properly ▪ The children had to be taken into care because of parental failure. ▪ The youngest child was in care for several years.
take care
: to be careful : to use caution ▪ He took care not to upset anyone. ▪ Take care when you cross the street. —often used informally to express good wishes when someone is leaving or at the end of a letter ▪ I'll see you next week. Take care!
take care of
1 : to do the things that are needed to help or protect (someone) or to keep (something) in good condition : to care for (someone or something) ▪ He takes care of [=looks after] his brother after school. ▪ They took care of a ten-room house without help. ▪ He is home taking care of a sick child. ▪ Each worker takes care of [=is responsible for] three machines. ▪ Their family doctor has been taking care of them for 20 years. ▪ You really ought to take better care of yourself. If you don't get some rest and start eating better, you are bound to get sick. ▪ I'm old enough to take care of [=look out for] myself.
2 : to deal with or do (something that requires effort or attention) ▪ My assistant takes care of [=makes] all our travel arrangements. ▪ Don't worry about that mess. I'll take care of it. [=I'll clean it up] ▪ He offered to take care of [=pay] the bill.
2 : to deal with or do (something that requires effort or attention) ▪ My assistant takes care of [=makes] all our travel arrangements. ▪ Don't worry about that mess. I'll take care of it. [=I'll clean it up] ▪ He offered to take care of [=pay] the bill.