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

When we reunite, my old bedroom becomes a nursery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

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

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

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

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Grayce is a happy three-year-old, who loves going to nursery, playing music and whizzing about in her wheelchair - things her parents weren't always sure she would achieve.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

The household help repeatedly saw white veiled figures appearing and disappearing into two-month-old Ferdie’s nursery.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Related Words

• playroom
• preschool