care (cares plural & 3rd person present) (caring present participle) (cared past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you careabout something, you feel that it is important and are concerned about it.
no cont
...a company that cares about the environment. V about n
...young men who did not care whether they lived or died... V wh
Does anybody know we're here, does anybody care? V
2 verb If you carefor someone, you feel a lot of affection for them.
no cont (approval)
He wanted me to know that he still cared for me. V for/about n
...people who are your friends, who care about you. V for/about n, Also V
caring n-uncount
...the `feminine' traits of caring and compassion.
3 verb If you carefor someone or something, you look after them and keep them in a good state or condition.
They hired a nurse to care for her. V for n
...these distinctive cars, lovingly cared for by private owners. V for n
...well-cared-for homes. V-ed
Care is also a noun., n-uncount usu with supp
Most of the staff specialise in the care of children., ...sensitive teeth which need special care..., She denied the murder of four children who were in her care.
4 n-uncount Children who are incare are looked after by the state because their parents are dead or unable to look after them properly.
(BRIT) oft in N
...a home for children in care..., She was taken into care as a baby.
5 verb If you say that you do not carefor something or someone, you mean that you do not like them.
OLD-FASHIONED no cont, with brd-neg
She had met both sons and did not care for either. V for n
6 verb If you say that someone does something when they careto do it, you mean that they do it, although they should do it more willingly or more often.
no cont
(=choose)
The woman tells anyone who cares to listen that she's going through hell... V to-inf
Experts reveal only as much as they care to. V to-inf
7 verb You can ask someone if they would carefor something or if they would careto do something as a polite way of asking if they would like to have or do something.
no cont (politeness)
(=like)
Would you care for some orange juice?... V for n
He said he was off to the beach and would we care to join him. V to-inf
8 n-uncount If you do something withcare, you give careful attention to it because you do not want to make any mistakes or cause any damage.
oft with N
Condoms are an effective method of birth control if used with care..., We'd taken enormous care in choosing the location.
9 n-count Your cares are your worries, anxieties, or fears.
(=worry)
Lean back in a hot bath and forget all the cares of the day..., Johnson seemed without a care in the world.
10
→
caring
→
aftercare
→
day care
→
intensive care
11 You can use for all I care to emphasize that it does not matter at all to you what someone does.
for all sb cares phrase V inflects, PHR with cl (emphasis)
You can go right now for all I care.
12 If you say that you couldn't care lessabout someone or something, you are emphasizing that you are not interested in them or worried about them. In American English, you can also say that you could care less, with the same meaning.
couldn't care less, could care less phrase V inflects, oft PHR about n (emphasis)
I couldn't care less about the bloody woman..., I used to be proud working for them; now I could care less. I'm just out here for the money...
13 If someone sends you a letter or parcel care of a particular person or place, they send it to that person or place, and it is then passed on to you. In American English, you can also say in care of.
care of sb, in care of sb phrase PHR n
Please write to me care of the publishers...
14 If you take care of someone or something, you look after them and prevent them from being harmed or damaged.
take care of sth/sb phrase V inflects, PHR n
(=look after)
There was no one else to take care of their children..., You have to learn to take care of your possessions.
15 You can say `Take care' when saying goodbye to someone.
take care convention
(formulae)
16 If you take careto do something, you make sure that you do it.
take care to do sth phrase V inflects, usu PHR to-inf
Foley followed Albert through the gate, taking care to close the latch.
17 To take care of a problem, task, or situation means to deal with it.
take care of sth phrase V inflects, PHR n
(=deal with)
They leave it to the system to try and take care of the problem..., `Do you need clean sheets?'—`No. Mrs. May took care of that.'
18 You can say `Who cares?' to emphasize that something does not matter to you at all.
who cares phrase oft PHR about n (emphasis)
Who cares about some stupid vacation?..., `But we might ruin the stove.'—`Who cares?'
care home (care homes plural )A care home is a large house or institution where people with particular problems or special needs are looked after. n-count usu with supp
...a residential care home for the elderly.
care worker (care workers plural )A care worker is someone whose job involves helping people who have particular problems or special needs, for example in a care home. n-count
→
health care worker
day care
Day care is care that is provided during the day for people who cannot look after themselves, such as small children, old people, or people who are ill. Day care is provided by paid workers. n-uncount oft N n
...a day-care centre for elderly people.
devil-may-care
If you say that someone has a devil-may-care attitude, you mean that they seem relaxed and do not seem worried about the consequences of their actions. adj usu ADJ n (approval)
hair care , haircare
Hair care is all the things people do to keep their hair clean, healthy-looking, and attractive. n-uncount
...an American maker of hair-care products.
health care worker (health care workers plural )A health care worker is someone who works in a hospital or health centre. n-count
intensive care
If someone is inintensive care, they are being given extremely thorough care in a hospital because they are very ill or very badly injured. n-uncount usu in N
She spent the night in intensive care after the operation.
primary care
Primary care refers to those parts of the health service, such as general practitioners and hospital casualty departments, that deal with people who are in immediate need of medical care. n-uncount
...the crucial roles of primary care and of preventive work.
respite care
Respite care is short-term care that is provided for very old or very sick people so that the person who usually cares for them can have a break. n-uncount
...respite care for their very ill child for short periods.
skin care , skincare
Skin care involves keeping your skin clean, healthy-looking, and attractive. n-uncount oft N n
...a unique range of natural skincare products.
