/ tend; NAmE / verb
1.
[ v to inf ] to be likely to do sth or to happen in a particular way because this is what often or usually happens :
Women tend to live longer than men.
When I'm tired, I tend to make mistakes.
It tends to get very cold here in the winter.
People tend to think that the problem will never affect them.
2.
[ v ] tend (to / towards sth) to take a particular direction or often have a particular quality :
His views tend towards the extreme.
Prices have tended downwards over recent years.
3.
tend (to) sb/sth to care for sb/sth :
[ vn ]
a shepherd tending his sheep
Doctors and nurses tended the injured.
well-tended gardens
[ v ]
Ambulance crews were tending to the injured.
4.
[ vn ] ( NAmE ) to serve customers in a store, bar, etc. :
He had a job tending bar in San Francisco.
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WORD ORIGIN
senses 1 to 2 Middle English (in the sense move or be inclined to move in a certain direction ): from Old French tendre stretch, tend, from Latin tendere .
senses 3 to 4 Middle English : shortening of attend .