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

As for where to purchase both milkweed and nectar-producing plants, Sardiñas recommended checking out Calscape, a website by the California Native Plant Society, for help finding local nurseries that sell native plants. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2026

New York — As a new mom-to-be, my social media feeds have clocked me — funneling endless videos my way about pregnancy, nursery prep and birth stories, to the point of baby information overload. — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026

The nursery is designed to produce low-cost seedlings for conservation, with some trees available for purchase and others used to restore forests affected by wildfires. — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Scientists believe that warming ocean temperatures, an abundance of prey, and natural protection from predators have led the species to use the harbor as a nursery area. — Asia London Palomba, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct. 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