noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

nursery

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Nursery (noun) means a place where babies are breastfed or where young children are cared for and brought up. Example: “She dropped her baby at the nursery before heading to work.”

noun

A place where babies are breastfed or where young children are cared for and brought up.

"She dropped her baby at the nursery before heading to work."

"The hospital has a nursery where newborn babies are looked after."

"Our neighbour runs a small nursery where toddlers play and nap."

Particularly in parts of Europe: a room kept just for looking after children in the home.

"We painted the nursery yellow before the baby was born."

"A cot and a rocking chair stood in the quiet nursery."

"She tiptoed into the nursery to check on the sleeping twins."

A daytime centre that looks after young children who haven't started school yet, while their parents are at work.

"He takes his daughter to nursery three mornings a week."

"Places at the local nursery fill up quickly, so book early."

"The nursery sent home a painting the toddlers made today."

The earliest year of pre-school education.

"My daughter starts nursery in September, so we are visiting the local one."

"He cried on his first day at nursery but soon made friends."

"After nursery she moves on to reception at the primary school."

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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She dropped her baby at the _____ before heading to work.

Etymology

The word comes from Middle English noricerie, norserye ("children's nursery; state of being fostered or nursed; education, upbringing"), among other forms, which came from Old French norricerie, nourricerie. This derived from norrice, nourrice (modern French nourrice ("childminder, nanny; wet nurse")) plus -erie (a suffix forming feminine nouns). Norrice and nourrice in turn came from Late Latin nūtrīcia ("wet nurse"), from Latin nūtrīcius ("that nurses or suckles; nourishing"), from nūtriō ("to breastfeed, nurse, suckle"), possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)neh₂- ("to flow"). The English word can also be analysed as nourice, nurse plus -ery (a suffix forming nouns meaning 'place of').

Synonyms

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preschool crèche

Related words

kindergarten preschool daycare crèche

Rhymes for nursery

very every fiery query leery artery celery bakery finery ornery misery watery

See all rhymes for nursery →

Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of nursery?

"nursery" (noun) means a place where babies are breastfed or where young children are cared for and brought up.

What is another word for nursery?

Other words for "nursery" include preschool, crèche.

What are the different meanings of nursery?

"nursery" has 3 main meanings: 1. A place where babies are breastfed or where young children are cared for and brought up; 2. Particularly in parts of Europe: a room kept just for looking after children in the home; 3. A daytime centre that looks after young children who haven't started school yet, while their parents are at work.

How do you use nursery in a sentence?

Example: "She dropped her baby at the nursery before heading to work."

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