noun
Uncommon
nurture
NURR-chuhr
Nurture (noun) means Care and encouragement given to help someone or something grow and develop. Example: “The plants thrived under her careful nurture.”
noun
1
Care and encouragement given to help someone or something grow and develop.
"The plants thrived under her careful nurture."
2
The environmental and social influences on a person's development, as opposed to inherited traits.
"The debate over nature versus nurture is far from settled."
verb
1
To care for and encourage the growth or development of someone or something.
"The teacher nurtured her students' curiosity from an early age."
"He had nurtured the small business for over a decade."
How to use nurture
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo care for and help something grow, or the environment and upbringing that shapes a person.
Common pairings
nature versus nurture
nurture a talent
nurture a relationship
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Word forms
- Plural
- nurtures
- Third person singular
- nurtures
- Past tense
- nurtured
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The plants thrived under her careful _____.
Etymology
From Old French norriture, "nourishment", from Latin nutrire, "to nourish".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for nurture
See all rhymes for nurture →Frequently asked questions
What does “nurture” mean?
The word “nurture” means care and encouragement given to help someone or something grow and develop. In plain terms, to care for and help something grow, or the environment and upbringing that shapes a person.
How do you pronounce “nurture”?
“Nurture” is pronounced NURR-chuhr (/ˈnɜːɹ.t͡ʃəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “nurture” in a sentence?
Here is “nurture” used in a sentence: “The plants thrived under her careful nurture.”
What is another word for “nurture”?
Words with a similar meaning to “nurture” include encourage, foster, feed, grow, cultivate and promote.
What is the opposite of “nurture”?
The opposite of “nurture” — its antonyms — are destroy and hinder.
What part of speech is “nurture”?
Depending on how it is used, “nurture” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “nurture” come from?
The word “nurture” comes from Latin. From Old French norriture, "nourishment", from Latin nutrire, "to nourish".
Is “nurture” a common word?
“Nurture” is an uncommon word in modern English.
