Definition of "tend"

tend¹

/tɛnd/

verb
third-person singular simple present tends, present participle tending, simple past and past participle tended
1. (law, Old English law) To make a tender of; to offer or tender.
2. (followed by a to-infinitive) To be likely, or probable to do something, or to have a certain habit or leaning.
3. (intransitive) To contribute to or toward some outcome.
  Quotations
  The Lords in 1722 declared that annexing such Clauses tends to the destruction of this government. And yet there are such bills every session and you pass them.
  1812, William Cobbett, The Parliamentary History of England

tend²

/tɛnd/

verb
third-person singular simple present tends, present participle tending, simple past and past participle tended
1. (with to) To look after (e.g. an ill person.)
2. To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard.
  Quotations
  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.
  1847, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Threnody
  Man selects only for his own good; Nature only for that of the being which she tends.
  1859, Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species (1859)
3. To wait (upon), as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend.
  Quotations
  Was he not companion with the riotous knights / That tend upon my father?
  c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene i]
4. (obsolete) To await; to expect.
  Quotations
  Had I not. Four or five women once that tended me?
  1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene ii]
5. (obsolete) To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to.
  Quotations
  Being to descend / A ladder much in height, I did not tend / My way well down.
  1614–1615, Homer, “(please specify the book number)”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, […], volumes (please specify the book number), London: John Russell Smith, […], 1857,
6. (transitive, nautical) To manage (an anchored vessel) when the tide turns, to prevent it from entangling the cable when swinging.

tend³

/tɛnd/

verb
third-person singular simple present tends, present participle tending, simple past and past participle tended
1. (transitive, now chiefly dialectal) To kindle; ignite; set on fire; light; inflame; burn.

Definition of "tend"

tend1

verb

Quotations

tend2

verb

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tend3

verb

tend¹

tend²

tend³