nursery

noun

nurs·​ery ˈnər-s(ə-)rē 

plural nurseries

1

obsolete : attentive care : fosterage

2

a

: a child's bedroom

b

: a place where children are temporarily cared for in their parents' absence

c

: day nursery

3

a

: something that fosters, develops, or promotes

b

: a place in which persons are trained or educated

4

: an area where plants are grown for transplanting, for use as stocks for budding and grafting, or for sale

5

: a place where young animals grow or are cared for

Synonyms of nursery

• center
• nest
• seminary
• hothouse

Examples of nursery in a Sentence

She still needs to decorate the nursery before the baby comes.

We get our flowers from a local nursery.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lowe said Southern California's beaches act as a nursery for young sharks, many of whom are staying in the area because of the recent heatwaves. —Lauren Pozen, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026

Mangrove roots act as a nursery, supporting 800 billion young fish, prawns and crustaceans each year, according to a 2024 analysis by a coalition of governments and international biodiversity organizations. —Ryan Kellman, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026

In honor of 50 years running, Johnson said Talini’s will host occasional sales throughout the year on nursery goods, which will be announced online ahead of time. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026

After Marshall’s son was born, doctors transferred the newborn to a specialty nursery within the hospital. —Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing nursery

• day nursery
• nursery rhyme
• nursery school
• nursery slope

Rhymes for nursery

• bursary
• cursory
• anniversary

Kids Definition

nursery

noun

nurs·​ery ˈnərs-(ə-)rē 

plural nurseries

1

a

: a child's bedroom

b

: a place where children are temporarily cared for in their parents' absence

2

: a place where plants (as trees or shrubs) are grown for transplanting, for use as stocks in grafting, or for sale

Medical Definition

nursery

noun

nurs·​ery ˈnərs-(ə-)rē 

plural nurseries

: the department of a hospital where newborn infants are cared for