2 → see also careless
car|er /keə rə r / (carers ) N‑COUNT A carer is someone who is responsible for looking after another person, for example, a person who has a disability, or is ill or very young. [BRIT ] □ [+ of ] Women are more likely than men to be carers of elderly dependent relatives. in AM, use caregiver , caretaker
ca|ress /kəre s/ (caresses , caressing , caressed ) VERB If you caress someone, you stroke them gently and affectionately. [WRITTEN ] □ [V n] He was gently caressing her golden hair. ● N‑COUNT Caress is also a noun. □ Margaret took me to one side, holding my arm in a gentle caress.
care|taker /keə r te I kə r / (caretakers )
1 N‑COUNT A caretaker is a person whose job it is to look after a large building such as a school or a block of flats or apartments, and deal with small repairs to it. [BRIT ] in AM, use janitor 2 N‑COUNT A caretaker is a person whose job it is to take care of a house or property when the owner is not there.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] A caretaker government or leader is in charge temporarily until a new government or leader is appointed. □ The military intends to hand over power to a caretaker government.
4 N‑COUNT A caretaker is someone who is responsible for looking after another person, for example, a person who has a disability, or is ill or very young. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, use carer
ca re work|er (care workers )
1 N‑COUNT A care worker is someone whose job involves helping people who have particular problems or special needs, for example in a care home.
2 → see also health care worker
care|worn /keə r wɔː r n/ ADJ A person who looks careworn looks worried, tired, and unhappy. □ Her face was careworn with anxiety.
car|go /kɑː r goʊ/ (cargoes ) N‑VAR The cargo of a ship or plane is the goods that it is carrying. □ [+ of ] The boat calls at the main port to load its regular cargo of bananas. □ …cargo planes.
Car|ib|bean /kæ rəbiː ən, [AM ] kər I biən/ (Caribbeans )
1 N‑PROPER The Caribbean is the sea which is between the West Indies, Central America, and the north coast of South America.
2 ADJ Caribbean means belonging or relating to the Caribbean Sea and its islands, or to its people.
3 N‑COUNT A Caribbean is a person from a Caribbean island.
4 → see also Afro-Caribbean
cari|bou /kæ r I buː/ (caribou ) N‑COUNT A caribou is a large north American deer.
cari|ca|ture /kæ r I kətʃʊə r , [AM ] -tʃər/ (caricatures , caricaturing , caricatured )
1 N‑COUNT A caricature of someone is a drawing or description of them that exaggerates their appearance or behaviour in a humorous or critical way. □ [+ of ] The poster showed a caricature of him with a devil's horns and tail.
2 VERB If you caricature someone, you draw or describe them in an exaggerated way in order to be humorous or critical. □ [be V -ed] Her political career has been caricatured in headlines. □ [be V -ed + as ] He was caricatured as a turnip. [Also V n as n]
3 N‑COUNT If you describe something as a caricature of an event or situation, you mean that it is a very exaggerated account of it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] Are such views really a caricature of the truth?
cari|ca|tur|ist /kæ r I kətʃʊər I st/ (caricaturists ) N‑COUNT A caricaturist is a person who shows other people in an exaggerated way in order to be humorous or critical, especially in drawings or cartoons.
car|ies /keə riz/ N‑UNCOUNT Caries is decay in teeth. [TECHNICAL ] □ …dental caries.
car|ing ◆◇◇ /keə r I ŋ/
1 ADJ If someone is caring , they are affectionate, helpful, and sympathetic. □ He is a lovely boy, very gentle and caring. □ …a loving, caring husband.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] The caring professions are those such as nursing and social work that are involved with looking after people who are ill or who need help in coping with their lives. [BRIT ] □ The course is also suitable for those in the caring professions. □ …the caring services.
3 → see also care SYNONYMS caring ADJ 1
compassionate: My father was a deeply compassionate man.
kind: She is warmhearted and kind to everyone and everything.
warm: She was a warm and loving mother.
sympathetic: It may be that he sees you only as a sympathetic friend.
ca r-jacker (car-jackers ) N‑COUNT A car-jacker is someone who attacks and steals from people who are driving their own cars.
car|jack|ing /kɑː r dʒæk I ŋ/ (carjackings ) N‑VAR A carjacking is an attack on a person who is driving their own car during which things may be stolen or they may be harmed physically.
car|load /kɑː r loʊd/ (carloads ) N‑COUNT A carload of people or things is as many people or things as a car can carry. □ [+ of ] Wherever he goes, a carload of soldiers goes with him.
car|mine /kɑː r ma I n, -m I n/ COLOUR Carmine is a deep bright-red colour. [LITERARY ] □ …a tulip with carmine petals.
car|nage /kɑː r n I dʒ/ N‑UNCOUNT Carnage is the violent killing of large numbers of people, especially in a war. [LITERARY ] □ …a planned attempt to wreak carnage in a very busy town centre.