tend

verb

1. To make a tender of; to offer or tender.
2. (auxiliary)To be likely, or probable to do something, or to have a certain habit or leaning.

   “They tend to go out on Saturdays.”

   “It tends to snow here in winter.”

   “I was tending to get up later and later after the breakup.”

   “Difficult broken country extends almost to the coast between Swatow (Shant’ou) on the south and Hangchow on the north, and this succession of barriers has tended to cut off southeast coastal China from the main body of the country.”

3. (intransitive)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.”

5. To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard.

   “Shepherds tend their flocks.”

   “There's not a sparrow or a wren, / There's not a blade of autumn grain, / Which the four seasons do not tend / And tides of life and increase lend.”

   “Man selects only for his own good; Nature only for that of the being which she tends.”

6. To wait (upon), as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend.

   “Was he not companion with the riotous knights / That tend upon my father?”

7. (obsolete)To await; to expect.

   “Had I not. Four or five women once that tended me?”

8. (obsolete)To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to.

   “Being to descend / A ladder much in height, I did not tend / My way well down.”

9. (transitive)To manage (an anchored vessel) when the tide turns, to prevent it from entangling the cable when swinging.
10. (dialectal, transitive)To kindle; ignite; set on fire; light; inflame; burn.