no obj., with infinitive
1- regularly or frequently behave in a particular way or have a certain characteristic有某种倾向; 往往会：
written language tends to be formal
书面语往往正式
her hair tended to come loose.
她的头发容易松散。
1.1
- no obj.
tend to/towards
be liable to possess or display (a particular characteristic)易于, 趋于： Walter tended towards corpulence.
沃尔特有发胖的趋势。
1.2
- no obj., with adverbial go or move in a particular direction走向; 趋向：
the rate of change of money wages tends to infinity.
货币工资的变率趋向于无穷大。
词源
Middle English （in the sense 'move or be inclined to move in a certain direction'）： from Old French tendre 'stretch, tend', from Latin tendere.
with obj.
1- care for or look after; give one's attention to照顾, 照料; 照管; 护理：
Varela tended plants on the roof
瓦勒拉照管屋顶的植物
no obj. for two or three months he tended to business.他照看生意两三个月了。
1.1
- US direct or manage; work in〈美〉经营, 管理; 在…工作：
I've been tending bar at the airport lounge.
我一直在机场休息厅经营酒吧。
1.2
- archaic wait on as an attendant or servant〈古〉侍候; 服侍。
派生词
tendance
noun （archaic〈古〉）词源
Middle English: shortening of ATTEND.