nurture

[ nur-cher ]

/ ˈnɜr tʃər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nurture ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), nur·tured, nur·tur·ing.

to feed and protect: to nurture one's offspring.

to support and encourage, as during the period of training or development; foster: to nurture promising musicians.

to bring up; train; educate.

noun

rearing, upbringing, training, education, or the like.

development: the nurture of young artists.

something that nourishes; nourishment; food.

Nearby words

nursing home, nursing mother, nursing officer, nursling, nurturance, nurture, nus, nusa tenggara, nusku, nut, nut case

Origin of nurture

1300–50; (noun) Middle English norture < Middle French, variant of nourriture < Late Latin nūtrītūra a nourishing, equivalent to Latin nūtrīt(us) (past participle of nūtrīre to feed, nourish) + -ūra -ure; (v.) derivative of the noun

SYNONYMS FOR nurture

1, 3 See nurse.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR nurture ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

nur·tur·a·ble, adjectivenur·ture·less, adjectivenur·tur·er, nounun·nur·tured, adjective

well-nur·tured, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nurtured

“The golden age of Parisian smiles nurtured, and was nurtured by, the rise of dentistry as a vocation,” writes Jones.
The French Court’s Royal Ban on Smiles|William O’Connor|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Its reporting and commentary on politics, society, and arts and letters have nurtured a broad liberal spirit in our national life.
Facebook Prince Purges The New Republic: Inside the Destruction of a 100-Year-Old Magazine|Lloyd Grove|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A precocious talent, he was nurtured by enlightened teachers in London and then discovered California.
A British Start to the Tour de France Forces the English to Wonder: What Does Being English Mean Anymore?|Clive Irving|July 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mina's pupils are cherished, respected and nurtured, as anyone can see.
Challenging Religious Tradition for the Love of God — and the Love of Dance|Moral Courage|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

One hopes they will be nurtured and continue to grow, whichever candidate emerges victorious next Tuesday.
The Leak of a Mysterious Video Could Change the Outcome of Newark’s Mayor’s Race|Charles Upton Sahm|May 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These beautiful States are swept by the ocean and mountain winds, and nurtured by the glowing sun and gentle rains.
Historic Papers on the Causes of the Civil War|Mrs. Eugenia Dunlap Potts
General Chassé had not been nurtured in the classical retirement of Ollerton.
Relics of General Chasse|Anthony Trollope
A dear son born in her later years is nurtured in the well-builded hall, a child of many prayers and a welcome.
The Homeric Hymns|Andrew Lang
The self-governing municipalities had nurtured a multitude of men whom small power and responsibility fitted for great things.
The South American Republics Part I of II|Thomas C. Dawson
His religion was deeply rooted and nurtured by association with and testimony of an eye witness to the living God.
William Clayton's Journal|William Clayton

British Dictionary definitions for nurtured

nurture

/ (ˈnɜːtʃə) /

noun

the act or process of promoting the development, etc, of a child

something that nourishes

biology the environmental factors that partly determine the structure of an organismSee also nature (def. 12)

verb (tr)

to feed or support

to educate or train

Derived Forms

nurturable, adjectivenurturer, noun

Word Origin for nurture

C14: from Old French norriture, from Latin nutrīre to nourish

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012