verb

tend

Look after someone or something.

The nurse tends her patients with patience and care.

Etymology

This tend shortens attend. Its care-giving sense preserves attending to someone's needs or looking after a thing.

More examples

  • She tends the garden every morning before work.
  • Someone needs to tend the fire while we cook.
  • We tended the injured bird until it could fly again.

Forms

tend · tends · tended · tending

Similar words

nurse
Nurse emphasizes caring for someone who is sick or injured.
maintain
Maintain focuses on keeping something in good working condition.