care

care [ker]

n.

[ME < OE caru, sorrow < IE base * ĝar-, cry out, scream > L garrulus, garrulous, Goth kara, care, Ger kar-, in karfreitag, Good Friday]

1.

a) a troubled or burdened state of mind; worry; concern

b) a cause of such a mental state

2. close attention or careful heed [to drive with care]

3. a liking or regard (for) [to show no care for others]

4. charge; protection; custody [left in a friend's care]

5. something to watch over or attend to; a responsibility

vi.

cared, caring

1. to have objection, worry, regret, etc.; mind [do you care if I go?]

2. to feel concern or interest [to care about others]

3. to feel love or a liking (for)

4. to take charge of; look after; provide (for)

5. to wish (for); want [do you care for more pie?]

vt.

1. to feel concern about or interest in [I don't care what you did]

2. to wish or desire [do you care to eat now?]

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could care less [corruption of phr. couldn't care less]

Informal feel(s) the least possible degree of interest, sympathy, etc.

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have a care

to be careful: also take care

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☆ in care of or care of

at the address of

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☆ take care of

1. to have charge of or be responsible for; look after; attend to

2. to provide for; protect against trouble, want, etc.

SYN.- CARE suggests a weighing down of the mind, as by dread, apprehension, or great responsibility [worn out by the cares of the day ]; CONCERN suggests mental uneasiness over someone or something in which one has an affectionate interest [I feel concern for their welfare ]; SOLICITUDE implies thoughtfulness, often excessive apprehension, for the welfare, safety, or comfort of another [she stroked his head with great solicitude]; WORRY suggests mental distress or agitation over some problem [his chief worry was that he might fail ]; ANXIETY suggests an apprehensive or uneasy feeling with less mental activity than WORRY, often over some indefinite but anticipated evil [he viewed the world situation with anxiety] -ANT. UNCONCERN, INDIFFERENCE