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

• breeding ground
• hotbed
• hothouse
• nest
• nidus
• seedbed
• seminary

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

Think of it a nursery, more of a safe space, for these female bull sharks. —Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2024

For the first time, the Olympic Village will feature a nursery — to help athletes more easily spend time with their babies or infants amid grueling competition and training schedules. —Annabelle Timsit, Washington Post, 10 July 2024

Girdling roots often begin circling at the nursery when trees grow in a pot that is too small. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2024

The nursery grows a wide variety of plants and trees, but Iryna, who asks that only her first name be used, says the roses mean the most to her. —Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 June 2024

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

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