Nursery — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈnər-s(ə-)rē/ nurs·ery

Meaning & Definition of Nursery

Nursery (noun)

  1. attentive care, fosterage
  2. a child's bedroom
  3. a place where children are temporarily cared for in their parents' absence

Nursery (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a place or environment that favors the development of something

    "ancient Greece is often cited as the nursery of democracy"

    similar: breeding ground, hotbed, hothouse, nest, nidus, seedbed, seminary
    related: crucible, base, capital, center, core, cynosure, eye, focus, heart, hub, mecca, nucleus, seat, headquarters

  2. a school for children who are generally less than five years old

    "are asking parents not to bring their children to the nursery if they have the flu virus"

    similar: crèche, day nursery, nursery school, pre-K, prekindergarten, preschool

Related Entry: Nursery school (noun)

Nursery school is a different word from Nursery. The synonyms below are for nursery school, not for nursery.

  1. a school for children who are generally less than five years old

    "parents trying to find the right nursery school for their children"

    similar: crèche, day nursery, nursery, pre-K, prekindergarten, preschool

Related Entry: Nursery schools (noun)

Nursery schools is a different word from Nursery. The synonyms below are for nursery schools, not for nursery.

  1. a school for children who are generally less than five years old

    "parents trying to find the right nursery school for their children"

    similar: crèches, day nurseries, nurseries, prekindergartens, pre-Ks, preschools

Related Entry: Day nursery (noun)

Day nursery is a different word from Nursery. The synonyms below are for day nursery, not for nursery.

  1. a school for children who are generally less than five years old

    "committed to the needs of its employees with young children, the insurance company has its own on-site day nursery"

    similar: crèche, nursery, nursery school, pre-K, prekindergarten, preschool

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Nursery

The most common words with a similar meaning to Nursery:

breeding ground, hotbed, hothouse, nest, nidus, seedbed, seminary, crèche, day nursery, nursery school, pre-K, prekindergarten, preschool

Related Words for Nursery

crucible, base, capital, center, core, cynosure, eye, focus, heart, hub, mecca, nucleus, seat, headquarters

Word Forms of Nursery

Inflections: nurseries

Origin & Etymology of Nursery

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Nursery

Words & Phrases Containing Nursery

nursery rhyme, nursery school, nursery slope, day nursery

Frequently Asked Questions about Nursery

What does "Nursery" mean?

"Nursery" means attentive care, fosterage. As a noun, it is defined as: attentive care, fosterage. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Nursery"?

Other words for "Nursery" include breeding ground, hotbed, hothouse, nest, nidus, seedbed, seminary and crèche. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Nursery" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Nursery"?

There are 27 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Nursery". Common alternatives include breeding ground, hotbed, hothouse, nest, nidus, seedbed, seminary, crèche, day nursery and nursery school.

How do you use "Nursery" in a sentence?

Examples of "Nursery" in a sentence: "ancient Greece is often cited as the nursery of democracy"; "are asking parents not to bring their children to the nursery if they have the flu virus".

Is "Nursery" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Nursery" is a noun.

Is "Nursery" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Nursery" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Nursery"?

"Nursery" is pronounced /ˈnər-s(ə-)rē/ and divided into syllables as nurs·ery.

What is the origin of the word "Nursery"?

First known use: 14th century.