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

The room is conceived as a home office, mini-gym, or perhaps a nursery. —Adam Williams, New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2024

For the younger set, there’s the Kid’s Club, which includes indoor and outdoor spaces for kids to explore, a large playroom, a mini kitchen, and a nursery, all staffed by on-site caregivers. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 6 Dec. 2024

The nursery also has looked after children whose mothers have to go into the hospital to give birth. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2024

There are two species seen in the nursery trade, big blue lily turf (Liriope muscari), growing up to two feet tall, and creeping lily turf (Liriope spicata). —Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 14 Nov. 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