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

• 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

Many hybrids are available in the nursery trade that combine the best traits of the parental lines including large flowers, a compact growth habit, and tolerance to heat and drought. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 July 2025

The nursery owner can’t unpot every tree in the place, so look for trees with the trunk centered in the pot or the root ball. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025

The conflicts began when Shapiro discovered a passion for horticulture and decided to expand on a previous owner’s plan to operate the reserve, known as Butter Lane Farm, as a tree nursery. —Andrew Rice, Curbed, 26 June 2025

Dozens of small farms and nurseries will be on hand with tips on how to handle your blushing crop — or plant new tropical trees — during this indoor bash. —Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2025

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