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

Plants grown in nurseries are crops maturing at different times throughout the year. —Chris McKeown, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2026

Expansion plans include a dedicated room for sanctuary rabbits that need extra care, a medical and isolation unit, a nursery for baby rabbits, called kits, and a space for emergency intakes waiting for foster homes to become available. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 5 Mar. 2026

Anna Ohler is the owner of Bright Lane Gardens, a nursery dedicated to sustainable gardening and ecological landscaping. —Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026

Furnishing a nursery can cost $400 to $2,000, travel gear like strollers and car seats can add up to the same; and recurring feeding costs in the first year run $360 to $4,800, Thrivent found. —Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 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