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

In addition to a wine cellar, a screening room, and a gym, other lavish amenities include a pool flanked by an open-air cabana, a croquet lawn, an orchid hot house, an indoor plant nursery, and an Argentine Padel court with a viewing platform. 10. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 27 June 2024

But the child desaturated again 15 minutes later, just as prosecutors suggest Letby went into the nursery to retrieve notes. —Christina Coulter, Fox News, 26 June 2024

Your local nursery will have nice specimens available for sale. —Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 June 2024

Cavill, 41, shared a selfie on Sunday, June 16, in front of a nursery and asked for fatherly advice from his followers ahead of becoming a dad. —Marina Watts, Peoplemag, 16 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