释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024tend1 /tɛnd/USA pronunciation v. - to be likely to do something;
to happen often:[~ + to + verb]Things tend to happen fast in the city. - (of a person) to be disposed toward an idea, etc.: [~ + to + verb]tends to be optimistic.[~ + to/toward + object]Her philosophy tends toward a belief in many gods.
- to lead in a certain direction, or to some result or condition:[no object]Prices tended downwards during the depression.
- to have a tendency toward a particular quality:[~ + to/toward + object]This wine tends toward the sweet side.
See -tend-.tend2 /tɛnd/USA pronunciation v. - to watch over and take care of: [~ + object]to tend a fire.[~ + to + object]Who will tend to the baby?
-tend-, root. - -tend- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "stretch;
stretch out; extend; proceed.'' This meaning is found in such words as: attend, contend, distend, extend, intend, portend, pretend, superintend, tend, tendency, tender, tendon.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024tend1 (tend),USA pronunciation v.i. - to be disposed or inclined in action, operation, or effect to do something:The particles tend to unite.
- to be disposed toward an idea, emotion, way of thinking, etc.:He tends to be overly optimistic. Her religious philosophy tends toward pantheism.
- to lead or conduce, as to some result or resulting condition:measures tending to improved working conditions; Governments are tending toward democracy.
- to be inclined to or have a tendency toward a particular quality, state, or degree:This wine tends toward the sweet side.
- (of a journey, course, road, etc.) to lead or be directed in a particular direction (usually fol. by to, toward, etc.):a path tending toward the beach.
- Latin tendere to stretch, extend, proceed
- Middle French tendre
- Middle English tenden 1300–50
tend2 (tend),USA pronunciation v.t. - to attend to by work or services, care, etc.:to tend a fire.
- to look after;
watch over and care for; minister to or wait on with service:to tend the sick. - Nautical, Naval Termsto handle or attend to (a rope).
v.i. - to attend by action, care, etc. (usually fol. by to).
- tend on or upon, [Archaic.]to attend or wait upon;
minister to; serve:She tended on the sick and dying with infinite compassion.
- Middle English tenden, aphetic variant of attend 1300–50
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: tend /tɛnd/ vb when intr, usually followed by to or towards: - (when tr, takes an infinitive) to have a general disposition (to do something); be inclined: children tend to prefer sweets to meat
- (intransitive) to have or be an influence (towards a specific result); be conducive
- (intransitive) to go or move (in a particular direction): to tend to the south
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French tendre, from Latin tendere to stretch tend /tɛnd/ vb - (transitive) to care for
- when intr, often followed by to: to attend (to)
- (transitive) to handle or control
- (intransitive) often followed by to: informal chiefly US Canadian to pay attention
Etymology: 14th Century: variant of attend |