kɛə n. & v. --n. 1
worry,
anxiety. 2 an
occasion for this. 3
serious attention;
heed,
caution, pains (assembled
with care;
handle with care). 4 a
protection,
charge. b
Brit. =
child care. 5 a
thing to be
done or
seen to. --v.intr. 1 (usu. foll. by
about, for, whether)
feel concern or
interest. 2 (usu. foll. by for, about,
and with neg. expressed or implied) feel
liking,
affection,
regard, or
deference (don't care for jazz). 3 (foll. by to + infin.)
wish or be
willing (should
not care to be seen with
him;
would you care to
try them?). øcare for
provide for;
look after. care-label a
label attached to
clothing, with instructions for
washing etc. care of at
the address of (sent it care of
his sister). for
all one cares colloq. denoting uninterest or
unconcern (for all I care
they can leave
tomorrow; I
could be
dying for all you care).
have a care
take care; be
careful. I (etc.) couldn't (US could) care
less colloq. an
expression of
complete indifference. in care Brit. (of a child) taken
into the care of a
local authority. take care 1 be careful. 2 (foll. by to + infin.) not
fail or
neglect. take care of 1 look after;
keep safe. 2 deal with. 3
dispose of. [OE caru, carian, f. Gmc]
