nursery

[nur-suh-ree]

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.

nursery

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• prenursery adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nursery¹

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

Example Sentences

Two men have been arrested by police investigating reports of a cyber-attack on a chain of nurseries in London.

Read more on BBC

School and nursery can be like a petri dish with lots of viruses circulating and they may well bring these germs home with them.

Read more on BBC

Ministers have announced plans to invest £4m in childcare but nursery owners have expressed concerns about the cost and the lack of staff to deliver it.

Read more on BBC

Species once cultivated by the historic nursery will be reintroduced alongside new plantings.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

South Oxfordshire District Council's community hub, Citizens Advice, schools and nurseries, medical practices, health visitors, housing associations and certain charities can officially refer people in need to the food bank.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• playroom 
• preschool