CARE FOR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does care for mean? 

• CARE FOR (verb)
  The verb CARE FOR has 3 senses:

1. have a liking, fondness, or taste (for)

2. be fond of; be attached to

3. provide treatment for

  Familiarity information: CARE FOR used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CARE FOR (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Have a liking, fondness, or taste (for)

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "care for" is one way to...):

like (find enjoyable or agreeable)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be fond of; be attached to

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

care for; cherish; hold dear; treasure

Hypernyms (to "care for" is one way to...):

love (have a great affection or liking for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "care for"):

yearn (have affection for; feel tenderness for)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

Sam cannot care for Sue
Sam and Sue care for the movie

Sense 3

Meaning:

Provide treatment for

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

care for; treat

Context example:

Treat the infection with antibiotics

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "care for"):

massage (give a massage to)

analyse; analyze; psychoanalyse; psychoanalyze (subject to psychoanalytic treatment)

burn; cauterise; cauterize (burn, sear, or freeze (tissue) using a hot iron or electric current or a caustic agent)

pack (treat the body or any part of it by wrapping it, as with blankets or sheets, and applying compresses to it, or stuffing it to provide cover, containment, or therapy, or to absorb blood)

shock (subject to electrical shocks)

cup; transfuse (treat by applying evacuated cups to the patient's skin)

bleed; leech; phlebotomise; phlebotomize (draw blood)

medicate; medicine (treat medicinally, treat with medicine)

operate; operate on (perform surgery on)

splint (support with a splint)

dress (apply a bandage or medication to)

relieve; remedy (provide relief for)

administer; dispense (give or apply (medications))

manipulate (treat manually, as with massage, for therapeutic purposed)

nurse (try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury)

vet (provide (a person) with medical care)

doctor (give medical treatment to)

iodise; iodize (treat with iodine so as to prevent infection)

irrigate (supply with a constant flow or sprinkling of some liquid, for the purpose of cooling, cleansing, or disinfecting)

detox; detoxify (treat for alcohol or drug dependence)

insufflate (treat by blowing a powder or vapor into a bodily cavity)

correct (treat a defect)

purge (excrete or evacuate (someone's bowels or body))

hyperventilate (produce hyperventilation in)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Did he care for his foot?

 Context examples 

Not that I care for his opinion—but what's the odds?

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I suspect you have big plans for your home or to care for a parent, who needs your help.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The Lion ate some of the porridge, but did not care for it, saying it was made from oats and oats were food for horses, not for lions.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

It’s six now, so if you care for a stroll this beautiful evening I shall be very happy to introduce you to two curiosities.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I am afraid that I must leave you to your own devices, as the appearance of two inquiring strangers upon a sleepy countryside might excite more gossip than I care for.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I couldn't care for any other dog but Jip, I am afraid, aunt.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

'Tell Arthur everything you choose. I do not care for myself, but all for him!'

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

We neither of us care for it.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Why, what should make me down-hearted? said he; I am sound in health and rich in purse, what should I care for?

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

A health professional trained to care for people who are ill or disabled.

(Nurse, NCI Dictionary)