Nurse — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
Meaning & Definition of Nurse
Nurse (noun)
- a person who cares for the sick or infirm; specifically, a licensed health care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health
- a woman who suckles an infant not her own, wet nurse
- a woman who takes care of a young child, dry nurse
Nurse (verb)
- to nourish at the breast, suckle
- to take nourishment from the breast of
- to care for and wait on (someone, such as a sick person)
Nurse (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
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a person employed to care for a young child or children
"sent his little son back to his nurse so that he could return to his study to work"
Nurse (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
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to attend to the needs and comforts of
"willingly lent a hand to nurse his grandmother in her final years, helping her get from one room to the other and making sure she was warm"
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to give milk to from the breast
"a new mother's decision to nurse her baby"
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to keep in one's mind or heart
"he continues to nurse a tender affection for his first girlfriend"
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to treat with great or excessive care
"nursed his sprained ankle for the rest of the week"
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to bring to maturity through care and education
"as foster parents they accepted and nursed 16 needy children over the years"
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to help the growth or development of
"her teachers did much to nurse her literary talent"
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to use or give out in stingy amounts
"he carefully nursed his energy during the marathon so that he would have something left for the final stretch"
Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Nurse
The most common words with a similar meaning to Nurse:
Antonyms & Opposite Words for Nurse
Words with the opposite meaning of Nurse:
Near Antonyms of Nurse
Word Forms of Nurse
Derived words: nurser (noun)
Origin & Etymology of Nurse
Middle English norice, norce, nurse, from Anglo-French nurice, from Late Latin nutricia, from Latin, feminine of nutricius nourishing nutritious
First known use: 13th century
Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Nurse
- CEFR level: A1 English Vocabulary — Page 12
- Topics: Work & Jobs, Body & Health
Words & Phrases Containing Nurse
Frequently Asked Questions about Nurse
What does "Nurse" mean?
"Nurse" means a person who cares for the sick or infirm; specifically, a licensed health care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a person who cares for the sick or infirm; specifically, a licensed health care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health. It has 8 distinct senses.
What is another word for "Nurse"?
Other words for "Nurse" include babysitter, dry nurse, nanny, nursemaid, nurser, sitter, administer (to) and care (for). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Nurse" you intend.
What are different ways to say "Nurse"?
There are 155 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Nurse". Common alternatives include babysitter, dry nurse, nanny, nursemaid, nurser, sitter, administer (to), care (for), minister (to) and mother.
What is the opposite of "Nurse"?
Antonyms of "Nurse" include abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, maltreat, manhandle, mishandle, mistreat and misuse. Near antonyms include brush (aside or off), forget, ignore and neglect.
How do you use "Nurse" in a sentence?
Examples of "Nurse" in a sentence: "sent his little son back to his nurse so that he could return to his study to work"; "willingly lent a hand to nurse his grandmother in her final years, helping her get from one room to the other and making sure she was warm"; "a new mother's decision to nurse her baby".
Is "Nurse" a noun, verb, or adjective?
"Nurse" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.
Is "Nurse" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?
As an A1-level word, "Nurse" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.
How do you pronounce "Nurse"?
"Nurse" is pronounced /ˈnərs/.