tending

tend ¹  (tnd)

intr.v. tend·ed, tend·ing, tends

1. To have a tendency: paint that tends toward bubbling and peeling over time.

2. To be disposed or inclined: tends toward exaggeration.

3. To move or extend in a certain direction: Our ship tended northward.

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[Middle English tenden, from Old French tendre, from Latin tendere; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]

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tend ²  (tnd)

v. tend·ed, tend·ing, tends

v.tr.

1. To have the care of; watch over; look after: tend a child.

2. To manage the activities and transactions of; run: tend bar; tend a store in the owner's absence.

v.intr.

1. To be an attendant or servant.

2. To apply one's attention; attend: no time to tend to my diary.

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[Middle English tenden, short for attenden, to wait on; see attend.]

Synonyms: tend², attend, mind, minister, watch
These verbs mean to have the care or supervision of: tended her plants; attends the sick; minded the unreliable furnace; ministered to flood victims; watched the house while the owners were away.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	tending - the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something; "no medical care was required"; "the old car needs constant attention" care, attention, aid hair care, haircare, hairdressing - care for the hair: the activity of washing or cutting or curling or arranging the hair work - activity directed toward making or doing something; "she checked several points needing further work" maternalism - motherly care; behavior characteristic of a mother; the practice of acting as a mother does toward her children baby sitting, babysitting - the work of a baby sitter; caring for children when their parents are not home pet sitting - the work of a pet sitter; caring for pets in their own home while their owners are away from home dental care - care for the teeth first aid - emergency care given before regular medical aid can be obtained treatment, intervention - care provided to improve a situation (especially medical procedures or applications that are intended to relieve illness or injury) incubation - maintaining something at the most favorable temperature for its development livery - the care (feeding and stabling) of horses for pay manicure - professional care for the hands and fingernails pedicure - professional care for the feet and toenails nourishment - the act of nourishing; "her nourishment of the orphans saved many lives" nursing - the work of caring for the sick or injured or infirm tender loving care, TLC - considerate and solicitous care; "young children need lots of TLC" nurturance - physical and emotional care and nourishment personal care - care for someone who is disabled or is otherwise unable to care for themselves; can including bathing and cooking and managing bodily functions skin care, skincare - care for the skin faith cure, faith healing - care provided through prayer and faith in God tree surgery - treatment of damaged or decaying trees healthcare, health care - the preservation of mental and physical health by preventing or treating illness through services offered by the health profession
Adj.	1.	tending - (usually followed by `to') naturally disposed toward; "he is apt to ignore matters he considers unimportant"; "I am not minded to answer any questions" apt, disposed, given, minded inclined - (often followed by `to') having a preference, disposition, or tendency; "wasn't inclined to believe the excuse"; "inclined to be moody"