careful

careful
[[t]ke͟ə(r)fʊl[/t]]
♦♦
1) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about/with/of n, ADJ to-inf If you are careful, you give serious attention to what you are doing, in order to avoid harm, damage, or mistakes. If you are careful to do something, you make sure that you do it.

Be very careful with this stuff, it can be dangerous if it isn't handled properly...

Careful on those stairs!...

We had to be very careful not to be seen...

Pupils will need careful guidance on their choice of options.

Ant:
Derived words:
carefully ADV-GRADED ADV with v

Have a nice time, dear, and drive carefully...

He had chosen his words carefully in declaring that the murderers were madmen.

2) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n Careful work, thought, or examination is thorough and shows a concern for details.

He has decided to prosecute her after careful consideration of all the relevant facts...

What we now know about the disease was learned by careful study of diseased organs.

Syn:
Derived words:
carefully ADV-GRADED ADV with v

...a vast series of deliberate and carefully planned thefts...

He explained very carefully what he was doing.

3) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ about/of -ing If you tell someone to be careful about doing something, you think that what they intend to do is probably wrong, and that they should think seriously before they do it.

I think you should be careful about talking of the rebels as heroes...

It is important, I think, for everyone to be careful about claiming victory.

Syn:
cautious, circumspect
Derived words:
carefully ADV ADV after v

He should think carefully about actions like this which play into the hands of his opponents.

4) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ with n If you are careful with something such as money or resources, you use or spend only what is necessary.

You will have to make a special effort to train your child to be careful with her pocket-money...

It would force industries to be more careful with natural resources.

Syn:
5) PHRASE You can say `You can't be too careful' as a way of advising someone to be careful, even when this seems unnecessary. [SPOKEN]

You can't be too careful when a young child is near water.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • careful — 1 solicitous, anxious, worried, concerned (see under CARE n) Analogous words: disquieted, perturbed, discomposed, disturbed, upset (see DISCOMPOSE): troubled, distressed (see TROUBLE vb): *watchful, vigilant, alert 2 Careful, meticulous,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Careful — Care ful (k[^a]r f[.u]l), a. [AS. cearful.] 1. Full of care; anxious; solicitous. [Archaic] [1913 Webster] Be careful [Rev. Ver. anxious ] for nothing. Phil. iv. 6. [1913 Webster] The careful plowman doubting stands. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • careful — [ker′fəl] adj. [ME & OE: see CARE & FUL] 1. acting or working in a thoughtful, painstaking way 2. cautious, wary, or guarded [a careful reply] 3. accurately or thoroughly done or made; painstaking [a careful analysis] 4 …   English World dictionary

  • Careful — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda «Careful» Sencillo de Paramore del álbum Brand New Eyes Género(s) Punk pop y Rock Alternativo Duración 3:51 …   Wikipedia Español

  • careful — I adjective accuratus, alert, attentive, attentus, cautious, circumspect, concerned, diligens, discreet, foresighted, guarded, heedful, judicious, meticulous, mindful, on one s guard, on the alert, overcautious, painstaking, precautious,… …   Law dictionary

  • careful — ► ADJECTIVE 1) taking care to avoid mishap or harm; cautious. 2) (careful with) prudent in the use of. 3) done with or showing thought and attention. DERIVATIVES carefully adverb carefulness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • careful — O.E. cearful mournful, sad, also full of care or woe; anxious; full of concern (for someone or something), thus applying attention, painstaking, circumspect; from CARE (Cf. care) (n.) + FUL (Cf. ful). Related: Carefully (O.E. carful lice) …   Etymology dictionary

  • careful — [adj] cautious; painstaking accurate, alert, apprehensive, assiduous, attentive, chary, choosy, circumspect, concerned, conscientious, conservative, cool, deliberate, discreet, exacting, fastidious, finicky, fussy, going to great lengths*,… …   New thesaurus

  • careful */*/*/ — UK [ˈkeə(r)f(ə)l] / US [ˈkerf(ə)l] adjective 1) if someone is careful, they think about what they are doing so that they do not do anything wrong or so that they avoid problems Teachers have to be careful when criticizing pupils. Even the most… …   English dictionary

  • careful — care|ful [ kerfl ] adjective *** 1. ) if someone is careful, they think about what they are doing so that they do not do anything wrong or so that they avoid problems: Teachers have to be careful when criticizing pupils. Even the most careful… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • careful — care|ful W2S1 [ˈkeəfəl US ˈker ] adj 1.) (be) careful! spoken used to tell someone to think about what they are doing so that something bad does not happen ▪ Be careful there s broken glass on the floor! 2.) trying very hard to avoid doing… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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