care

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To feel that something is important to you or to feel concern about it.

   I really care about my work and want to do it well.

2. 2
   noun

   The work of looking after someone or something.

   The patient received excellent care in the hospital.

3. 3
   noun

   The act of being responsible for the safety of someone or something.

   The children were left in the care of their grandmother.

4. 4
   verb

   To want or wish to do something, used in polite offers.

   Would you care to join us for dinner?

5. 5
   noun

   A worried feeling caused by problems or responsibilities.

   She walked along the beach without a care in the world.

Common collocations

• take care Verb + noun
• extra care Adjective + noun
• great care Adjective + noun
• intensive care Adjective + noun
• medical care Adjective + noun
• personal care Adjective + noun
• proper care Adjective + noun
• special care Adjective + noun
• need care Verb + noun
• provide care Verb + noun
• receive care Verb + noun

From Middle English care, from Old English caru, ċearu (“care, concern, anxiety, sorrow, grief, trouble”), from Proto-West Germanic *karu, from Proto-Germanic *karō (“care, sorrow, cry”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵeh₂r- (“shout, call”). Cognate with Old Saxon cara, kara (“concern, action”), Middle High German kar (“sorrow, lamentation”), Icelandic kör (“sickbed”), Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐍂𐌰 (kara, “concern, care”). Related also to Dutch karig (“scanty”), German karg (“sparse, meagre, barren”), Latin garriō, Ancient Greek γῆρυς (gêrus). See also chary.

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