tend

²tend

verb

Definition of TEND

1

to take charge of especially on behalf of another <tend the store while I run an errand>

Synonyms attend, care (for), mind, oversee, superintend, supervise, watch

Related Words administrate, conduct, control, direct, govern, guide, manage, operate, preside (over), regulate, run, steward; guard, patrol, protect, safeguard, shield; baby, babysit, chaperone (or chaperon), mother, shepherd

Phrases look after, see after, see to, take care of

Near Antonyms abandon, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, pass over

2

to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care <lately I haven't been doing a good job of tending my garden>

Synonyms crop, cultivate, culture, dress, promote, raise, rear, tend

Related Words breed, produce, propagate; plant, sow; gather, glean, harvest, reap; germinate, quicken, ripen, root, sprout

Near Antonyms kill; dig, extirpate, pick, pluck, pull (up), uproot; cut, hay, mow

3

to work by plowing, sowing, and raising crops on <plots that during the war were tended by city dwellers as vegetable gardens>

Synonyms cultivate, tend, till

Related Words crop, plant; harvest, reap; harrow, hoe; sharecrop

4

to look after and make decisions about <the dying patriarch wondered who would tend the family business after he was gone>

Synonyms administer, administrate, carry on, control, direct, govern, guide, handle, keep, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tend

Related Words care (for), mind, watch; lead, pilot, steer; guard, protect, safeguard; micromanage, stage-manage; codirect, comanage