nurse

¹nurse

noun \ˈnərs\

Definition of NURSE

1

a : a woman who suckles an infant not her own : wet nurse b : a woman who takes care of a young child : dry nurse

2

: one that looks after, fosters, or advises

3

: a person who cares for the sick or infirm; specifically : a licensed health-care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health — compare licensed practical nurse, registered nurse

4

a : a worker form of a social insect (as an ant or a bee) that cares for the young b : a female mammal used to suckle the young of another

Examples of NURSE

1. The nurse will take your blood pressure before the doctor sees you.
2. Nurse, may I have some water?

Origin of NURSE

Middle English norice, norce, nurse, from Anglo-French nurice, from Late Latin nutricia, from Latin, feminine of nutricius nourishing — more at nutritious

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to NURSE

Synonyms: babysitter, dry nurse, nanny (also nannie), nursemaid, nurser, sitter

Related Words: amah, ayah; au pair, bonne; mammy; duenna, fraulein, governess, mademoiselle

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Other Job Terms

factotum, milliner, ostler, scrivener, tinker, webster, wordsmith

Rhymes with NURSE

birse, burse, curse, Erse, hearse, perse, purse, terce, terse, verse, worse