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care

care

555 1.0
Attention to avoid harm or mistakes
  • noun
  • /kɛr/
translation icon : cuidado
  • Used properly, it's an excellent tool, but it's necessary to exercise care and judgment.
  • take care
  • with great care
  • with extra care

Examples

  • Next, he washed his face, taking care to rub his eyes and nose well.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Sculptures of deities have been carved with great care in butter.

  • I asked you to take care of it.

  • We did take care of that user you sent us.

  • His apartment reflected the precise care he took with everything in his life.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • And he took tremendous care as an experimentalist.

  • Objectives here need to be selected with meticulous care to include quality knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The scientists take extreme care not to damage the fossils during the cleaning processes.

  • As a parent, I need to take care of her, not the other way around.

  • Take a slow, controlled step forward, taking care to keep the front foot pointing straight ahead.

Synonyms

precaution
vscare
229 3.4

A careful action done beforehand to avoid harm or danger

is broader, covering any attentive action not only those done beforehand
caution
vscare
158 2.5

Care that helps you avoid danger or mistakes

is a general action of attending closely to prevent harm
great care
vscare
21 2.8

A high level of attention and caution that helps avoid damage or mistakes

is the normal act of avoiding harm rather than exceptional thoroughness
forethought
vscare
10 5.5

Careful planning for the future to avoid problems

is immediate attentive action to avoid harm rather than future planning
reasonable care
vscare
  • Jargon
1 3.8

Enough careful attention a sensible person gives in a situation to avoid harm

is ordinary attentive action, not a legal standard for negligence
due care
vscare
  • Formal
1 5.0

A level of careful attention a sensible person shows in a situation, often required by law

is plain attentive action, not defined as a legal duty
carefulness
vscare
1 2.1

Paying close attention to avoid mistakes or harm

is the action of taking steps to avoid harm or mistakes

Antonyms

negligence
  • Specialized
80 6.5

Failure to take proper care that causes harm or loss

16 2.8

Lack of attention that causes mistakes or accidents

Idioms

to care a hang
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To feel no interest or worry at all about something

1 9.1

To say you do not care at all, often to show you actually do care

1 9.9

To not care at all

9.9

To feel no interest or concern about something

Not be very interested in something, said as a joke

to care a pin
  • Archaic
9.9

To not mind something at all

Compounds

924 1.8

Services that help people stay well or get better

155 2.5

Help from doctors and nurses for illness or injury

116 1.9

Looking after children by someone other than their parents, often for pay

77 2.6

Temporary care in another home for children who cannot live with their parents

75 1.2

Care for children during the day while their parents work

50 1.8

A place where young children are looked after while parents work

intensive care
  • Specialized
50 3.0

A hospital unit where very ill people get constant monitoring and treatment

47 3.0

Basic medical help people get first from a family doctor

Someone or somewhere that gives medical care, for example a doctor

21 2.8

A high level of attention and caution that helps avoid damage or mistakes

intensive care unit
  • Specialized
18 3.1

A hospital area where very sick patients get constant care and monitoring

A doctor you see first for health problems who gives general care and arranges specialist help

13 1.6

A daily routine to keep your skin clean and healthy

home care
  • Specialized
11 2.8

Care and help with medical and personal needs in a person's home for elderly or disabled people

8 2.1

To keep teeth healthy by brushing, flossing, and visiting a dentist

8 1.3

Looking after hair by washing, cutting, and treating it

hospital care
  • Specialized
5 2.1

Doctors and nurses give treatment and nursing to a patient during a hospital stay

care delivery
  • Specialized
5 3.4

The way people get health services from places like a hospital or clinic

nursing care
  • Specialized
5 3.0

Care given by a trained nurse to help a patient get better

devil-may-care
  • Informal
4 8.1

Not caring about danger or the bad results of actions

health care delivery
  • Specialized
4 3.1

The way health services are organized and given to people

Help for people who cannot fully look after themselves, for example with bathing, dressing, and eating

A doctor or nurse you see first for health problems and regular check-ups

2 4.7

A hospital area where very small or sick newborns get constant medical care

primary health care
  • Specialized
2 3.0

Basic health care you get first from a doctor or community clinic for everyday needs

2 2.5

Gentle, careful help and attention people give to someone or something that needs support

due care
  • Formal
1 5.0

A level of careful attention a sensible person shows in a situation, often required by law

eye care
  • Specialized
1 3.0

To keep your eyes healthy, have regular checkups and protect them

1 3.8

Long-term help and housing for people with memory loss like dementia

1 3.8

Enough careful attention a sensible person gives in a situation to avoid harm

1 4.4

A place that gives long-term medical care and help for people recovering

pediatric care
  • Specialized
1 3.4

Care that doctors and nurses give to babies, children, and teenagers

coronary care unit
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A hospital department that gives close care to people with serious heart problems

1 2.7

Keeping a car clean and working by doing regular checks and repairs

Care Bear
  • Baby Talk
1 3.0

A made-up colorful bear character with a symbol on its belly showing a feeling

1 3.0

Temporary care in a home for animals waiting for adoption

ordinary care
  • Formal
1 3.8

The level of attention and caution a reasonable person shows in similar situations to avoid harm

Regular cleaning, careful handling, and safe storage to keep a camera working well

8.6

How much someone is interested in or bothered by something, often little

crit care technique
  • Specialized
6.1

A special method nurses use in intensive care to treat very sick patients

Very gentle treatment to avoid harm or upset

3.0

Services that clean and repair a house or apartment

How Careful

care
555 1.0
caution
158 2.5
carelessness
16 2.8

Surface Forms

care singular
cares plural

Etymology

Care comes from an old English word caru meaning 'worry' or 'concern'. From that idea came the sense of paying close attention, so to take care is to be careful and avoid harm, as you can see in the word careful.