crèche
[ kresh, kreysh; French kresh ]
/ krɛʃ, kreɪʃ; French krɛʃ /
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noun, plural crèch·es [kresh-iz, krey-shiz; French kresh]. /ˈkrɛʃ ɪz, ˈkreɪ ʃɪz; French krɛʃ/.
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.
a home for foundlings.
British. a day-care center; day nursery.
Animal Behavior. an assemblage of dependent young that are cared for communally.
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Origin of crèche
1785–95; <French, Old French <Frankish *kripjacrib
Words nearby crèche
creature comfort, creature comforts, creature feature, creaturely, CREB, crèche, Crécy, cred, credence, credence table, credendum
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use crèche in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for crèche
crèche
/ (krɛʃ, kreɪʃ, French krɛʃ) /
noun
mainly British
- a day nursery for very young children
- a supervised play area provided for young children for short periods
a tableau of Christ's Nativity
a foundling home or hospital
Word Origin for crèche
C19: from Old French: manger, crib, ultimately of Germanic origin; compare Old High German kripja crib
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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