care and maintenance share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. care means “the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something”. maintenance means “activity involved in maintaining something in good working order”. care is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈkɛɹ/
1.n.the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
“no medical care was required”
2.n.judiciousness in avoiding harm or danger
“he exercised caution in opening the door”
3.n.an anxious feeling
“care had aged him”
/ˈmeɪntənəns/
1.n.activity involved in maintaining something in good working order
“he wrote the manual on car care”
2.n.means of maintenance of a family or group
3.n.court-ordered support paid by one spouse to another after they are separated
| care | maintenance | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɛɹ/ | /ˈmeɪntənəns/ |
| Said | ker | MAYN-tuh-nuhns |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Letters | 4 | 11 |
| Parts of speech | noun, verb | noun |
| Senses | 11 | 5 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | attention, aid, tending | care, upkeep |
Full entry for care · Full entry for maintenance · More comparisons