care

n.

1. Careful conduct

   heed, concern, caution, close attention, consideration, regard, thoughtfulness, forethought, heedfulness, precaution, wariness, vigilance, watchfulness, watching, attending, solicitude, diligence, meticulousness, fastidiousness, nicety, pains, application, conscientiousness, thought, discrimination, carefulness, scrupulousness, exactness, particularity, prudence, circumspection, oversight, watch, concentration; see also attention 2, prudence.

   Antonyms carelessness*, neglect*, negligence. *

2. A troubled state of mind

   concern, worry, solicitude, anxiety, interest, chagrin, distress, bother, perplexity, trouble, disturbance, unhappiness, sorrow, grief, aggravation, fretfulness, stress, tribulation, responsibility, strain, pressure, vexation, perturbation, fear, oppression, uneasiness, exasperation, annoyance, misgiving, anguish, foreboding, apprehension, discomposure, pins and needles*, stew*, sweat*, fret*. *

   Antonyms calm, peace, indifference*.

3. Custody

   supervision, guardianship, keeping, charge; see administration 1, custody 1.

4. A cause of worry or concern

   problem, concern, trial, trouble, worry, bother, tribulation, responsibility, strain, load, onus, burden, encumbrance, nuisance, charge, incubus, hindrance, handicap, impediment; see also sense 2, affliction, difficulty 2, misfortune 1, 2, trouble 2.

care suggests a weighing down of the mind, as by apprehension or great responsibility worn out by the cares of the day; concern suggests mental uneasiness over someone or something in which one has an affectionate interest I feel concern for their welfare; solicitude implies concerned thoughtfulness, often excessive apprehension, for the welfare, safety, or comfort of another she stroked his head with great solicitude; worry suggests an actively troubled state of mind, esp. over some anticipated problem his chief worry was lack of money; anxiety suggests an apprehensive or uneasy feeling with less mental activity than worry, often over some indefinite but anticipated evil she viewed the world situation with anxiety

take care<strong> or </strong>have a care<strong>

take care of

care

v.

1. To be concerned

   be interested, feel concern, trouble, mind, regard, attend, worry, fret, object, disapprove, give a damn, give a hang, give a hoot*; see also bother 1, consider 1.

2. To be careful

   be cautious, look out for, be on guard, watch out, be aware of, heed, take precautions; see also mind 3.