Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To be cautious or attentive: To act with care, prudence, or watchfulness to avoid danger, mistakes, or problems.
   • To be responsible for dealing with something: To assume charge of or handle a task, matter, or arrangement.

2. Verb phrase (transitive, with "of"):

   • To look after or be responsible for someone or something: To provide care, supervision, or management for a person, animal, or thing.

Usage and Examples

• As an intransitive verb (caution):

  • Take care! The road is very icy.
  • Take care to read the instructions before starting the test.
  • He told me to take care when using the new machinery.

• As an intransitive verb (handling matters):

  • Don't worry about the booking; I will take care.
  • She can take care; she's very organized.

• As a transitive verb phrase with "of" (responsibility):

  • Could you take care of my cat while I'm on vacation?
  • He takes care of all the financial reports for the department.
  • The nurse took care of the patient's wounds.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Take care (that)...": Used to introduce a clause advising caution about a specific outcome.

  • Take care that you don't slip on the wet floor.
  • Take care that all the doors are locked.

• "Take care of oneself": Can mean to look after one's own health and well-being, or can be a standard farewell wishing someone well.

  • You need to take care of yourself and get more rest. (literal)
  • Goodbye! Take care! (farewell idiom)

• "Take care of business": An idiomatic expression meaning to handle necessary tasks or responsibilities efficiently.

  • He's the one who takes care of business in our office.

Variants and Related Words

• Careful (adj): Acting with or showing care and attention.
  • Be careful when you drive at night.
• Care (n): The process of protecting, providing for, or supervising someone or something; serious attention or consideration.
  • She chose the nursing home with great care.
• Caregiver / Carer (n): A person who provides direct care for children, the elderly, or the chronically ill.
  • Professional caregivers are in high demand.

Synonyms

• Be careful: Exercise caution.
• Look out: Be vigilant, watch for danger.
• See to / Attend to: Deal with or handle a matter.
• Handle / Manage: Be in charge of, deal with a task.
• Look after: Care for, be responsible for someone/something.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Take over: To assume control or responsibility for something.
  • When the manager is sick, her assistant takes over.
• See about: To attend to or deal with something (similar to "take care of").
  • I need to see about renewing my passport.

Related Idioms

• Take care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves: If you are careful with small amounts of money, you will accumulate wealth. (Proverb about thrift)
• Take (good) care of someone/something: To treat someone or something very well, sometimes implying protection or special treatment.
  • This watch was my grandfather's, so please take good care of it.

Verb

1. take charge of or deal with
   • Could you see about lunch?
   • I must attend to this matter
   • She took care of this business
2. be in charge of or deal with
   • She takes care of all the necessary arrangements
3. be careful, prudent, or watchful
   • Take care when you cross the street!