take care of

phrasal

1.

a. : to attend to the needs, operation, or treatment of

takes care of a ten-room house without help

is home taking care of a sick child

each operator can take care of three machines

family doctor who had been taking care of them for 20 years

b. : to provide for

five dollars should take care of unavoidable tips

has his aged parents to take care of

little steamers take care of transportation — Samuel Van Valkenburg & Ellsworth Huntington

2.

a. : to deal with

a change in the draft law to take care of draftees who refuse to answer loyalty questions — Newsweek

a clerk takes care of routine inquiries

b. : to dispose of

take care of the rubbish

ordinary ventilation will automatically take care of the excess carbon dioxide — H.G.Armstrong

the “longest lake entirely within New England” (that takes care of Lake Champlain) — R.S.Monahan

c.

(1) : fix

could be counted on to take care of a traffic ticket

the cops were well taken care of; the joint was running wide open — W.L.Gresham

(2) : kill

they take another inmate … and they tell him to take care of me and they'll take good care of him for it — Workers Defense Bulletin

* * *

1) keep (someone or something) safe and provided for

I can take care of myself

2) deal with (something)

he has the tools to take care of the electrical problem

* * *

take care of

1 : to do the things that are needed to help or protect (someone) or to keep (something) in good condition : to care for (someone or something)

He takes care of [=looks after] his brother after school.

They took care of a ten-room house without help.

He is home taking care of a sick child.

Each worker takes care of [=is responsible for] three machines.

Their family doctor has been taking care of them for 20 years.

You really ought to take better care of yourself. If you don't get some rest and start eating better, you are bound to get sick.

I'm old enough to take care of [=look out for] myself.

2 : to deal with or do (something that requires effort or attention)

My assistant takes care of [=makes] all our travel arrangements.

Don't worry about that mess. I'll take care of it. [=I'll clean it up]

He offered to take care of [=pay] the bill.

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Main Entry: ↑care