'Tend' definitions:
Definition of 'tend'
From: WordNet
verb
Have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined; "She tends to be nervous before her lectures"; "These dresses run small"; "He inclined to corpulence" [syn: tend, be given, lean, incline, run]
verb
Have care of or look after; "She tends to the children"
verb
Manage or run; "tend a store"
Definition of 'Tend'
From: GCIDE
- Tend \Tend\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tended; p. pr. & vb. n. Tending.] [Aphetic form of attend. See Attend, Tend to move, and cf. Tender one that tends or attends.]
- 1. To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard; as, shepherds tend their flocks. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- And flaming ministers to watch and tend Their earthly charge. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- There 's not a sparrow or a wren, There 's not a blade of autumn grain, Which the four seasons do not tend And tides of life and increase lend. --Emerson. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to. [1913 Webster]
- Being to descend A ladder much in height, I did not tend My way well down. --Chapman. [1913 Webster]
- To tend a vessel (Naut.), to manage an anchored vessel when the tide turns, so that in swinging she shall not entangle the cable. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Tend'
From: GCIDE
- Tend \Tend\, v. t. [See Tender to offer.] (O. Eng. Law) To make a tender of; to offer or tender. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Tend'
From: GCIDE
- Tend \Tend\, v. i.
- 1. To wait, as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend; -- with on or upon. [1913 Webster]
- Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tend upon my father? --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 2. [F. attendre.] To await; to expect. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Tend'
From: GCIDE
- Tend \Tend\, v. i. [F. tendre, L. tendere, tensum and tentum, to stretch, extend, direct one's course, tend; akin to Gr. ? to stretch, Skr. tan. See Thin, and cf. Tend to attend, Contend, Intense, Ostensible, Portent, Tempt, Tender to offer, Tense, a.]
- 1. To move in a certain direction; -- usually with to or towards. [1913 Webster]
- Two gentlemen tending towards that sight. --Sir H. Wotton. [1913 Webster]
- Thus will this latter, as the former world, Still tend from bad to worse. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- The clouds above me to the white Alps tend. --Byron. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To be directed, as to any end, object, or purpose; to aim; to have or give a leaning; to exert activity or influence; to serve as a means; to contribute; as, our petitions, if granted, might tend to our destruction. [1913 Webster]
- The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. --Prov. xxi. 5. [1913 Webster]
- The laws of our religion tend to the universal happiness of mankind. --Tillotson. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'tend'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- administer to,
- aim,
- animadvert,
- attend,
- attend on,
- attend to,
- baby-sit,
- bear,
- bed,
- bed down,
- bend to,
- bias,
- break,
- bridle,
- brush,
- care for,
- cater to,
- chaperon,
- cherish,
- chore,
- conduce,
- conserve,
- contribute,
- cultivate,
- curry,
- currycomb,
- dance attendance upon,
- defend,
- descend,
- dispose,
- do for,
- do service to,
- drench,
- dress,
- drop,
- drudge,
- favor,
- feed,
- fodder,
- foster,
- gentle,
- go,
- gravitate,
- groom,
- guard,
- handle,
- harness,
- have a tendency,
- head,
- heed,
- help,
- hitch,
- hold a heading,
- incline,
- keep watch over,
- labor,
- lackey,
- lead,
- lean,
- litter,
- look,
- look after,
- look out for,
- look to,
- maid,
- manage,
- mark,
- matronize,
- milk,
- mind,
- minister,
- minister to,
- mother,
- note,
- notice,
- nurse,
- nurture,
- observe,
- pander to,
- plunge,
- point,
- point to,
- precipitate,
- preserve,
- protect,
- protege,
- provide for,
- redound to,
- regard,
- remark,
- ride herd on,
- rub down,
- saddle,
- safeguard,
- see,
- see after,
- see to,
- serve,
- set,
- set toward,
- settle,
- shepherd,
- shield,
- show a tendency,
- sink,
- steer,
- subside,
- supervise,
- support,
- take care of,
- take charge of,
- take note,
- take notice,
- tame,
- tend to go,
- train,
- trend,
- turn,
- upon,
- valet,
- verge,
- view,
- wait,
- wait on,
- warp,
- watch,
- watch out for,
- watch over,
- water,
- work,
- work for,
- work toward,
- yoke