tend
//ˈtɛnd//
Forms
- present (v1)
- tend
- past (v2)
- tended
- past participle (v3)
- tended
- present participle
- tending
- 3rd person singular
- tends
Definitions
1.To make a tender of; to offer or tender.
2.To be likely, or probable to do something, or to have a certain habit or leaning.
- It tends to snow here in winter.
- They tend to go out on Saturdays.
- I was tending to get up later and later after the breakup.
3.To contribute to or toward some outcome.
- 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.
4.To look after (e.g. an ill person.)
- We need to tend to the garden, which has become a mess.
Frequency
Overall
Common· #1182
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Etymology
From Middle English tenden
From Middle French tendre
From Old French tendre (“to stretch, stretch out, hold forth, offer, tender”)
From Latin tendere (“to stretch, stretch out, extend, spread out”).