Other forms: caretakers
A caretaker is the person who looks after a building. The school caretaker, ask the caretaker, the caretaker has the keys.
In Britain the caretaker keeps the heating on, the floors clean and the doors locked, and knows more about the building than anybody in it. Janitor is the American term and custodian a more formal one. In politics, a caretaker government holds office temporarily without making major decisions, and caretaker manager is the same idea in football. Note care home, and caregiver, which is American for a carer.
1nouncaretakerThe person who looks after a building.
“The school caretaker unlocks the gates every morning at seven.”
synonyms: janitor, custodian
2adjectiveholdingHolding a position temporarily.
“The club appointed a caretaker manager after the coach was sacked.”
caretaker is a keeper or temporary holder.
Also accepted in games: janitor
Proto-Indo-European
*ǵeh₂r-
English, today
caretaker
From care + taker.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Jobs & Professions