The difference between Tend and Wait

When used as verbs, tend means to kindle, whereas wait means to delay movement or action until the arrival or occurrence of.


Wait is also noun with the meaning: a delay.

check bellow for the other definitions of Tend and Wait

  1. Tend as a verb (transitive, now, _, chiefly, _, dialectal):

    To kindle; ignite; set on fire; light; inflame; burn.

  1. Tend as a verb (legal, Old English law):

    To make a tender of; to offer or tender.

  2. Tend as a verb (followed by a to infinitive):

    To be likely, or probable to do something, or to have a certain characteristic.

    Examples:

    "They tend to go out on Saturdays."

    "It tends to snow here in winter."

  1. Tend as a verb (with to):

    To look after (e.g. an ill person.)

    Examples:

    "We need to tend to the garden, which has become a mess."

  2. Tend as a verb:

    To accompany as an assistant or protector; to care for the wants of; to look after; to watch; to guard.

    Examples:

    "Shepherds tend their flocks."

  3. Tend as a verb:

    To wait (upon), as attendants or servants; to serve; to attend.

  4. Tend as a verb (obsolete):

    To await; to expect.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Shakespeare"

  5. Tend as a verb (obsolete):

    To be attentive to; to note carefully; to attend to.

  6. Tend as a verb (transitive, nautical):

    To manage (an anchored vessel) when the tide turns, to prevent it from entangling the cable when swinging.

  1. Wait as a verb (transitive, now, rare):

    To delay movement or action until the arrival or occurrence of; to await. (Now generally superseded by “wait for”.)

  2. Wait as a verb (intransitive):

    To delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness.

    Examples:

    "'Wait here until your car arrives."

  3. Wait as a verb (intransitive, US):

    To wait tables; to serve customers in a restaurant or other eating establishment.

    Examples:

    "She used to wait down at the Dew Drop Inn."

  4. Wait as a verb (transitive, obsolete):

    To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect.

  5. Wait as a verb (obsolete):

    To attend as a consequence; to follow upon; to accompany.

  6. Wait as a verb (obsolete, colloquial):

    To defer or postpone (especially a meal).

    Examples:

    "to wait dinner"

  7. Wait as a verb (intransitive):

    To remain celibate while one's lover is unavailable.

  1. Wait as a noun:

    A delay.

    Examples:

    "I had a very long wait at the airport security check."

  2. Wait as a noun:

    An ambush.

    Examples:

    "They lay in wait for the patrol."

  3. Wait as a noun (obsolete):

    One who watches; a watchman.

  4. Wait as a noun (in the plural, obsolete, UK):

    Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians.

    Examples:

    "rfquotek Halliwell"

  5. Wait as a noun (in the plural, archaic, UK):

    Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen. [formerly waites, wayghtes.]