Definition of nurse
1a : a woman who suckles an infant not her own : wet nurseb : a woman who takes care of a young child : dry nurse
2 : one that looks after, fosters, or advises Time is the nurse and breeder of all good. — Shakespeare
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
4a : a worker form of a social (see 1social 4b) insect (such as an ant or a bee) that cares for the youngb : a female mammal used to suckle (see suckle 1a) the young of another a nurse cow
From the M-W Editors
Examples of nurse in a Sentence
The nurse will take your blood pressure before the doctor sees you.
Nurse, may I have some water?
Origin and Etymology 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
nurse
Definition of nurse
nursed
;nursing
transitive verb
1a : to nourish at the breast : suckleb : to take nourishment from the breast of
3a : to promote the development or progress ofb : to manage with care or economy nursed the business through hard times nursed a 1–0 leadc : to take charge of and watch over
4a : to care for and wait on (someone, such as a sick person)b : to attempt to cure by care and treatment
5 : to hold in one's memory or consideration nurse a grievance
6a : to use, handle, or operate carefully so as to conserve energy or avoid injury or pain nurse a sprained ankleb : to use sparinglyc : to consume slowly or over a long period nurse a cup of coffee
intransitive verb
1a : to feed an offspring from the breastb : to feed at the breast : suck
2 : to act or serve as a nurse
nurser
nounExamples of nurse in a Sentence
She is nursing her son through his illness.
The couple nursed the business through hard times.
He nursed the farm back to productivity.
The team nursed a 1–0 lead until the last inning.
The dog nursed her puppies.
The baby nursed for several months.
The puppies nursed for eight weeks.
Origin and Etymology of nurse
Middle English nurshen to suckle, nourish, contraction of nurishen
First Known Use: 14th century
NURSE Defined for English Language Learners
nurse
playDefinition of nurse for English Language Learners
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: a person who is trained to care for sick or injured people and who usually works in a hospital or doctor's office
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: a woman who is paid to take care of a young child usually in the child's home
nurse
Definition of nurse for English Language Learners
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: to take care of or help (someone who is sick or injured)
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: to give special care or attention to (something) : to try to keep (something) from failing
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: to feed (a baby or young animal) with milk from the mother's body
NURSE Defined for Kids
Definition of nurse for Students
1 : a person skilled or trained in caring for sick or injured people
2 : a woman employed for the care of a young child
History for nurse
The English word nurse can be traced back to a Latin word nutricius that meant “nourishing” or “feeding.” In the past some mothers did not feed their babies at their own breasts but hired someone else to do so. The English word nurse was first used for such a woman. Later it came to be used for any woman hired to take care of a young child. The word nurse is also used now for a person who takes care of sick or injured people.
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of nurse
1: a woman who suckles an infant not her own : wet nurse
2: 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—see licensed practical nurse, licensed vocational nurse, registered nurse
nurse
Medical Definition of nurse
nursed
;nursing
1
transitive verb
a: to nourish at the breast : suckleb: to take nourishment from the breast of : suck milk from2a: to care for and wait on (as an injured or infirm person)b: to attempt a cure of (as an ailment) by care and treatment
1
intransitive verb
a: to feed an offspring from the breastb: to feed at the breast : suck2: to act or serve as a nurse
Learn More about nurse
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See words that rhyme with nurse Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nurse Spanish Central: Translation of nurse Nglish: Translation of nurse for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of nurse for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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