8. provide to supplymeans of support (usu. fol. by for): to provide for one's children.
Etymology: (1375–1425; late ME < L prōvidēre to foresee, look after, provide for)
Definition of 'provide'
Princeton's WordNet
1. (verb)supply, provide, render, furnish give something useful or necessary to "We provided the room with an electrical heater"
2. (verb)provide, supply, ply, cater give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance "The hostess provided lunch for all the guests"
3. (verb)provide determine (what is to happen in certain contingencies), especially by including a provisocondition or stipulation "The will provides that each child should receive half of the money"; "The Constitution provides for the right to free speech"
4. (verb)put up, provide, offer mount or put up "put up a good fight"; "offer resistance"
5. (verb)leave, allow for, allow, provide make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain "This leaves no room for improvement"; "The evidence allows only one conclusion"; "allow for mistakes"; "leave lots of time for the trip"; "This procedure provides for lots of leeway"
6. (verb)provide, bring home the bacon supplymeans of subsistence; earn a living "He provides for his large family by working three jobs"; "Women nowadays not only take care of the household but also bring home the bacon"
7. (verb)provide take measures in preparation for "provide for the proper care of the passengers on the cruise ship"
1. (verb)provide to supply or make available The government provides money for the program.; lawyers who provide poor people with free legal advice
Definition of 'provide'
Webster Dictionary
1. (verb)provide to look out for in advance; to procure beforehand; to get, collect, or makeready for future use; to prepare
2. (verb)provide to supply; to afford; to contribute
3. (verb)provide to furnish; to supply; -- formerly followed by of, now by with
4. (verb)provide to establish as a previous condition; to stipulate; as, the contract provides that the work be well done
5. (verb)provide to foresee
6. (verb)provide to appoint to an ecclesiastical benefice before it is vacant. See Provisor
7. (verb)provide to procure supplies or means in advance; to take measures beforehand in view of an expected or a possible future need, especially a danger or an evil; -- followed by against or for; as, to provide against the inclemency of the weather; to provide for the education of a child
8. (verb)provide to stipulate previously; to condition; as, the agreement provides for an early completion of the work