nursery

noun

nurs·​ery ˈnər-s(ə-)rē How to pronounce nursery (audio)
plural nurseries
Synonyms of nurserynext
1
obsolete : attentive care : fosterage
2
a
: a child's bedroom
b
: a place where children are temporarily cared for in their parents' absence
c
: day nursery
3
a
: something that fosters, develops, or promotes
b
: a place in which persons are trained or educated
4
: an area where plants are grown for transplanting, for use as stocks for budding and grafting, or for sale
5
: a place where young animals grow or are cared for

Synonyms of nursery

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Examples of nursery in a Sentence

She still needs to decorate the nursery before the baby comes. We get our flowers from a local nursery.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other garden bits Fall plant sales abound Now is the perfect time to procure new plants, as gardens and nurseries across Southern California are hosting plant sales over the coming weeks. — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 An inquiry found that the nursery had no fire alarm or sprinkler system and that the hospital lacked detailed procedures and training for responding to fires and other emergencies. — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 Orange County’s agricultural heritage such as small farms, nurseries, and family growers disappears as development accelerates. — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026 Tasca tells Robb Report that the original developmental vines were obtained through a nursery that sold them only for trial purposes, but then the experiment became part of a larger initiative. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nursery

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nursery was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing nursery

Rhymes for nursery

See All Rhymes for nursery

Browse Nearby Words

nurser
nursery
nurserymaid
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nursery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nursery. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nursery

noun
nurs·​ery ˈnərs-(ə-)rē How to pronounce nursery (audio)
plural nurseries
1
a
: a child's bedroom
b
: a place where children are temporarily cared for in their parents' absence
2
: a place where plants (as trees or shrubs) are grown for transplanting, for use as stocks in grafting, or for sale

Medical Definition

nursery

noun
nurs·​ery ˈnərs-(ə-)rē How to pronounce nursery (audio)
plural nurseries
: the department of a hospital where newborn infants are cared for

More from Merriam-Webster on nursery

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nursery

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