nurturing

American  

[nur-cher-ing] / ˈnɜr tʃər ɪŋ /

adjective

1. providing food, protection, comfort, or support.

   Creating safe, nurturing places where all children can grow and develop their unique gifts is a responsibility of all adult members of a society.

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noun

1. the act of providing food, protection, support, or encouragement.

   There's no substitute for what nurturing can do for a child.

2. the act or process of educating or training.

   We hope to build an ecosystem in this county that encourages incubation, innovation, and nurturing of entrepreneurs.

Etymology

Origin of nurturing

First recorded in 1425–75; nurtur(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective sense; nurtur(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses

Example Sentences

A Sheep is nurturing, sensitive and empathetic, and the Horse baby brings energy and momentum into the Sheep parent’s world.

From Los Angeles Times

You can also volunteer with a nonprofit to expand your skills—while also nurturing your bigger purpose.

From Barron's

There, an athlete can adopt a houseplant for the duration of his or her stay, nurturing it for a couple weeks before it’s donated to a local charity, perhaps for auction.

From Los Angeles Times

Nasdaq, introduced in 1971, grew into the NYSE’s chief rival by nurturing tech innovators and taking trading online.

From Barron's

Nasdaq, introduced in 1971, grew into the NYSE’s chief rival by nurturing tech innovators and taking trading online.

From Barron's

Related Words

• sustenance