tend

tend [ tend ] verb ***

1. ) intransitive to usually do a particular thing:

tend to do something: He tends to exaggerate.

The gym tends to get very busy at around six o'clock.

We tend to take technology for granted nowadays.

These arguments tend merely to confuse the reader.

tend not to do something: Religion is personal and I tend not to talk about it.

a ) tend toward to usually have a particular quality:

Her study found that sociologists tended toward liberalism and radicalism.

2. ) intransitive or transitive to take care of someone or something:

Eddie kept himself busy tending the garden.

A team of army doctors were tending the wounded.

tend to: I have to tend to the children before I go out.

3. ) intransitive tend toward/upward/downward to change or develop in a particular direction:

I think they will tend toward stricter controls.

Housing prices have tended upward.

tend bar AMERICAN

to work behind a bar serving drinks