nursery

noun

nurs·​ery ˈnər-s(ə-)rē 

plural nurseries

1

obsolete : attentive care : fosterage

2

a

: a child's bedroom

b

: a place where children are temporarily cared for in their parents' absence

c

: day nursery

3

a

: something that fosters, develops, or promotes

b

: a place in which persons are trained or educated

4

: an area where plants are grown for transplanting, for use as stocks for budding and grafting, or for sale

5

: a place where young animals grow or are cared for

Synonyms

• breeding ground
• hotbed
• hothouse
• nest
• nidus
• seedbed
• seminary

Examples of nursery in a Sentence

She still needs to decorate the nursery before the baby comes.

We get our flowers from a local nursery.

Recent Examples on the Web

The typical Mediterranean household would probably rely on a steady supply of plants available today in most nurseries including cumin, caraway, dill and mint. —The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025

The nursery is currently growing 4,000 seedlings for four more community plots, each an acre or two in size. —Laura Mallonee, Wired News, 12 Apr. 2025

Transport your tree home carefully or pay the nursery to deliver it for you. —Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2025

Although the center is currently being housed at a hotel, most of the rooms are located within the same area of the hotel and surround the two main suites used for the mother's lounge and the baby nursery. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing nursery

• day nursery
• nursery rhyme
• nursery school
• nursery slope

Rhymes for nursery

• bursary
• cursory
• anniversary

Kids Definition

nursery

noun

nurs·​ery ˈnərs-(ə-)rē 

plural nurseries

1

a

: a child's bedroom

b

: a place where children are temporarily cared for in their parents' absence

2

: a place where plants (as trees or shrubs) are grown for transplanting, for use as stocks in grafting, or for sale

Medical Definition

nursery

noun

nurs·​ery ˈnərs-(ə-)rē 

plural nurseries

: the department of a hospital where newborn infants are cared for