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Added 3 October 2026

care

/kɛə/ noun

In Latin: cura Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about care at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Close attention; concern; responsibility.
Care should be taken when holding babies.
Maintenance, upkeep.
dental care
The treatment of those in need (especially as a profession).

verb

To be concerned (about), to have an interest (in); to feel concern (about).
She doesn’t care what you think.
To want, to desire; to like; to be inclined towards or interested in.
Would you care for another slice of cake?
To be affected by, to treat as relevant for a subsequent course of action.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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