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couldn't care less

 - 5 dictionary results
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care

  [kair] noun, verb, cared, car⋅ing.
Use couldn't care less in a Sentence
–noun
1. a state of mind in which one is troubled; worry, anxiety, or concern: He was never free from care.
2. a cause or object of worry, anxiety, concern, etc.: Their son has always been a great care to them.
3. serious attention; solicitude; heed; caution: She devotes great care to her work.
4. protection; charge: He is under the care of a doctor.
5. temporary keeping, as for the benefit of or until claimed by the owner: He left his valuables in the care of friends. Address my mail in care of the American Embassy.
6. grief; suffering; sorrow.
–verb (used without object)
7. to be concerned or solicitous; have thought or regard.
8. to be concerned or have a special preference (usually used in negative constructions): I don't care if I do.
9. to make provision or look out (usually fol. by for): Will you care for the children while I am away?
10. to have an inclination, liking, fondness, or affection (usually fol. by for): Would you care for dessert? I don't care for him very much.
–verb (used with object)
11. to feel concern about: He doesn't care what others say.
12. to wish; desire; like: Would you care to dance?
—Idioms
13. couldn't care less, could not care less; be completely unconcerned: I couldn't care less whether she goes to the party or not. Also, could care less.
14. take care,
a. be alert; be careful: Take care that you don't fall on the ice!
b. take care of yourself; goodbye: used as an expression of parting.
15. take care of,
a. to watch over; be responsible for: to take care of an invalid.
b. to act on; deal with; attend to: to take care of paying a bill.
Origin:
bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE caru, cearu, c. Goth kara, OHG chara lament; (v.) ME caren, OE cearian, carian

Related forms:
carer, noun

Synonyms:
1. See concern. 3. To take care, pains, trouble (to do something) implies watchful, conscientious effort to do something exactly right. To take care implies the performance of one particular detail: She took care to close the cover before striking the match. To take pains suggests a sustained carefulness, an effort to see that nothing is overlooked but that every small detail receives attention: to take pains with fine embroidery. To take trouble implies an effort that requires a considerable amount of activity and exertion: to take the trouble to make suitable arrangements.

Usage note:
15. Couldn't care less, a phrase used to express indifference, is sometimes heard as could care less, which ought to mean the opposite but is intended to be synonymous with the former phrase. Both versions are common mainly in informal speech.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

care 
O.E. caru, cearu "sorrow, anxiety, grief," also "serious mental attention," from P.Gmc. *karo, from PIE base *gar- "cry out, scream." Sense of "charge, oversight, protection" is c.1400. The verb is O.E. carian, cearian "to feel concern or interest," from P.Gmc. *karojanan. Phrase couldn't care less is from 1946; could care less in the same sense (with an understood negative) is 1966. Careful "circumspect" was in O.E.; careless "inattentive" is from 1579; carefree is from 1795. Caretaker is first attested 1858. Care package was originally CARE package, supplies sent out by Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere, a post-World War II organization.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: care
Function: noun
1 : watchful or protective attention, caution, concern, prudence, or regard usually towards an action or situation; especially : DUE CARE care in dealing with others, and failure to do so is negligence —Railroad I. Mehr> —see also DUE CARE, NEGLIGENCE, STANDARD OF CARE
NOTE: Statute, case law, and custom often impose a duty of care. The degree or standard of care owed varies depending on the circumstances. For example, a landlord has to exercise greater care in relation to a tenant than to a trespasser.
2 a : personal supervision or responsibility : CHARGE b : MAINTENANCE
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: care
Pronunciation: 'ka(&)r, 'ke(&)r
Function: noun
: responsibility for or attention to health, well-being, and safety —see ACUTE CARE, HEALTH CARE, INTENSIVE CARE, PRIMARY CARE, TERTIARY CARE —care intransitive verb cared; car·ing
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

couldn't care less

Also, could care less. Be completely indifferent. For example, Pick whatever dessert you want; I couldn't care less, or I could care less about the editor's opinion. This expression originated about 1940 in Britain and for a time invariably used couldn't. About 1960 could was occasionally substituted, and today both versions are used with approximately equal frequency, despite their being antonyms.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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