nursery

From Middle English norserye, from Old French norricerie; equivalent to nurse +‎ -ry.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈnɝs(ə)ɹi/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈnɜːs(ə)ɹi/
• Hyphenation US: nurs‧ery UK: nur‧sery

nursery (countable and uncountable, plural nurseries)

1. A place where nursing is carried on.
   1. A room or area in a household set apart for the care of children; specifically in European countries.
      • 1868, Anthony Trollope, He Knew He Was Right XI:

        As soon as she was alone and the carriage had been driven well away from the door, Mrs Trevelyan left the drawing-room and went up to the nursery. As she entered she clothed her face with her sweetest smile. ‘How is his own mother's dearest, dearest, darling duck’ she said, putting out her arms and taking the boy from the nurse.

      • 1907, Robert William Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, OCLC 24962326:

        But they had already discovered that he could be bullied, and they had it their own way; and presently Selwyn lay prone upon the nursery floor, impersonating a ladrone while pleasant shivers chased themselves over Drina, whom he was stalking.

   2. A place where young trees, shrubs, vines, etc., are cultivated for transplanting; a plantation of young trees.
   3. The place where anything is fostered and growth promoted.
      • c. 1594, William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew, act 1, scene 1:

        Fair Padua, nursery of arts.

      • a. 1832, John Mitchell Mason, [url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7aJHAQAAMAAJ quoted] in A Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, published 1832

        Christian families are the nurseries of the church on earth, as she is the nursery of the church in heaven.

   4. A nursery school.
2. (uncountable, obsolete) The act of nursing.
   • 1606, William Shakespeare, King Lear, act 1, scene 1:

     I loved her most, and thought to set my rest / On her kind nursery.

3. That which forms and educates.

   Commerce is the nursery of seamen.

   • 2011, Tracey Wickham, ‎Peter Meares, Treading Water (page 7)

     Nudgee College is regarded as the greatest rugby nursery in Queensland, with the boys in the blue-and-white butcher's stripes winning more Greater Public School rugby premierships than any other team.

4. (rare) That which is nursed.
5. (Philippines) The first year of preschool.

• nurse

Borrowed from English nursery.

nursery f (invariable)

1. nursery (place for the care of children)