Main Entry:

²nurse

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

nursed; nurs·ing

Etymology:

Middle English nurshen to suckle, nourish, contraction of nurishen

Date:

14th century

transitive verb1 a: to nourish at the breast : suckle b: to take nourishment from the breast of2: rear, educate3 a: to promote the development or progress of b: to manage with care or economy <nursed the business through hard times> <nursed a 1–0 lead> c: to take charge of and watch over4 a: to care for and wait on (as a sick person) b: to attempt to cure by care and treatment5: to hold in one's memory or consideration <nurse a grievance>6 a: to use, handle, or operate carefully so as to conserve energy or avoid injury or pain <nurse a sprained ankle> b: to use sparingly c: to consume slowly or over a long period <nurse a cup of coffee>intransitive verb1 a: to feed an offspring from the breast b: to feed at the breast : suck2: to act or serve as a nurse

— nurs·er noun