crèche
Americannoun
plural
crèches-
a small or large modeled representation or tableau of Mary, Joseph, and others around the crib of Jesus in the stable at Bethlehem, as is displayed in homes or erected for exhibition in a community at Christmas season.
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a home for foundlings.
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British. a day-care center; day nursery.
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Animal Behavior. an assemblage of dependent young that are cared for communally.
noun
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a day nursery for very young children
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a supervised play area provided for young children for short periods
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a tableau of Christ's Nativity
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a foundling home or hospital
Usage
What does crèche mean? A crèche is a nativity scene—a model of a scene depicting the birth of Jesus.Crèches are often displayed in or outside of homes or churches during Advent, the season preceding Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus and is among the most important Christian holidays. A crèche is also commonly called a Nativity scene or simply a Nativity.Crèche is also sometimes used to refer to a childcare facility like a day care. This sense of the word is primarily used in the United Kingdom.It is sometimes seen without the accent mark, which comes from its French spelling.Example: My children’s favorite part of the crèche is the goats and other animals.
Etymology
Origin of crèche
1785–95; < French, Old French < Frankish *kripja crib
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"There is a danger in thinking the internet is a crèche," he commented on the BBC website.
From BBC • Mar. 21, 2025
Mr. Rave says that this crèche is unusually large.
From NewsForKids.net • May 7, 2024
ACLU, in which the Supreme Court held that the Constitution’s establishment clause barred the displays of a crèche and the Ten Commandments in county courthouses.
From Washington Post • Jan. 16, 2022
“The Vatican’s Embarrassing SciFi Crèche,” read a headline in the conservative Catholic Herald, which like many conservative outlets and commentators, condemned the crèche.
From New York Times • Dec. 18, 2020
In the hall of the home, Celina Aunty set up a little crèche, a set of dolls in a stable: baby Yesu, Mary, Joseph, three kings, a drummer boy, and lots of animals.
From "The Bridge Home" by Padma Venkatraman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
