опека́ть

verbrare #16376

1.
to look after, to take care of, to watch over, to support
Вы не мо́жете постоя́нно опека́ть свои́х детей.
You can't look after your children all the time.
Often of caring for children, the elderly or newcomers.
2.
to be the guardian of, to have guardianship over, to act as trustee forlaw
После сме́рти роди́телей сироту́ опека́ет тётя.
After the parents' death the aunt is the orphan's guardian.
Legal sense: exercising guardianship over a minor or an incapacitated person.
3.
to mollycoddle, to be overprotective towards, to patronize
Не ну́жно меня́ опека́ть.
There's no need to mollycoddle me.
Disapproving: treating an adult as if unable to manage alone.
4.
to mark (an opponent), to cover closelysports
Защи́тник весь матч опека́л их напада́ющего.
The defender marked their striker for the whole match.
Of a defender staying with an opposing player.

Examples

Она всегда опекает своего младшего брата.
She always looks after her younger brother.
Учитель опекал талантливых учеников школы.
The teacher looked after the school's talented students.
Родители слишком опекают своего единственного ребёнка.
The parents are overprotective of their only child.

Imperative
ты	опека́й
вы	опека́йте

Active present	опека́ющий	tutelar, fostering, custodial, guardian
Active past	опека́вший	having looked after, caring (in the past), fostering
Passive present	опека́емый	under wardship, ward
Passive past	-
Gerund present	опека́я	while doing (present)
Gerund past	опека́в опекавши	while doing (past)