nursery

American  

[nur-suh-ree] / ˈnɜr sə ri /

noun

plural

nurseries

1. a room or place set apart for young children.

2. a nursery school or day nursery.

3. a place where young trees or other plants are raised for transplanting, for sale, or for experimental study.

4. any place in which something is bred, nourished, or fostered.

   The art institute has been the nursery of much great painting.

5. any situation, condition, circumstance, practice, etc., serving to breed or foster something.

   Slums are nurseries for young criminals.

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nursery British  

/ ˈnɜːsrɪ /

noun

1. 1. a room in a house set apart for use by children

   2. ( as modifier )

      nursery wallpaper

2. a place where plants, young trees, etc, are grown commercially

3. an establishment providing residential or day care for babies and very young children; crèche

4. short for nursery school

5. anywhere serving to foster or nourish new ideas, etc

6. Also called: nursery cannon.  billiards

   1. a series of cannons with the three balls adjacent to a cushion, esp near a corner pocket

   2. a cannon in such a series

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Other Word Forms

• prenursery adjective

Etymology

Origin of nursery

First recorded in 1350–1400, nursery is from the Middle English word norcery. See nurse, -ery

Example Sentences

This month, the firm served as an anchor investor in a continuation fund to recapitalize Kids Planet, a U.K. nursery operator backed by European midmarket buyout firm Fremman Capital.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Its life cycle includes a journey of 11,000 kilometers from Andean headwaters to coastal nursery areas.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

Theodore Payne, a California native plant nursery and education center, runs a wildflower hotline, where people can call in and hear weekly recorded reports on hot spots.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

In addition to the trailer, they hit a patio area and a nursery room wall.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Once the children were tucked in, he yawned and looked out the nursery windows.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• playroom
• preschool