noun
nurse
nurs
noun
1
A person trained to care for the sick or injured, typically working under a doctor.
"The nurse checked his blood pressure before the doctor arrived."
2
A person who looks after young children, especially in a private household.
"A nurse looked after the children while their parents travelled."
verb
1
To care for someone who is sick or injured.
"She nursed her husband back to health after his surgery."
2
To breastfeed a baby.
"The mother nursed her newborn in the quiet of the hospital room."
3
To drink something slowly to make it last, or to hold or nurture a feeling over time.
"He nursed a single beer for the whole evening."
"She had nursed a grudge against her old boss for years."
How to Use Nurse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who cares for sick people professionally, or the act of caring for someone or something over time — including drinks and grudges.
Common pairings
nurse someone back to health
nurse a drink
nurse a grudge
Word Forms
nursed past tense, nurses plural, nurses plural, Nurses plural, nurses singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “nurse”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ checked his blood pressure before the doctor arrived.
Etymology
From Old French norrice, from Late Latin nutricia, based on Latin nutrix, "wet nurse", from nutrire, "to nourish".