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

According to Chris Lowe, professor of marine biology and director of the Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab, juvenile white sharks move into shallow coastal waters during the summer and fall, using California beaches as important nursery habitats. — Denis Akbari, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026

These nurseries are where young sharks spend the earliest stages of their lives before moving out into the open ocean. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 July 2026

The versatile design lends itself to nurseries, playrooms, home offices, and casual living spaces alike. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 29 July 2026

In addition, children who initially spend time closer to their mothers in prison nurseries exhibit better mental health and academic outcomes than those who are separated from their mothers after delivery. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 29 July 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