nurseries

Noun

nursery (countable and uncountable, plural nurseries)

1. (broadly) Especially in European countries: a room or area in a household set apart for the care of children.
   • 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...1869 May, Anthony Trollope, “Lady Milborough as Ambassador”, in He Knew He Was Right, volume I, London: Strahan and Company, […], →OCLC, page 87
2. (British, UK) An institution for small children who not yet have begun primary school during daytime (when their parents work); a daycare centre.

   Synonyms:

   crèche, nursery school, preschool

3. (Philippines) The first year of pre-school.
4. (also, countable, figuratively) A place where anything is fostered and growth promoted.
   • [S]ince for the great deſire I had
     To ſee faire Padua, nurſerie of Arts,
     I am arriu'd for fruitfull Lombardie,
     The pleaſant garden of great Italy.c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...

   Synonyms:

   soil

   1. (also, figuratively) A place where animals breed, or where young animals are naturally or artificially reared (for example, on a farm).
   2. (also, figuratively) A place where young shrubs, trees, vines, etc., are cultivated for transplanting, or (more generally) made available for public sale, a garden centre; also (obsolete) a plantation of young trees.
      • [I]f we had but one skilful and diligent Nurſery-man, who had a complete Nurſery of all ſorts of good fruit, and of the beſt Vines that agree beſt with this Climate, and Mulberry Trees, and wholſom Trees for the avenues of Cities, Towns, and fair Manſions; That one ſuch Nurſery within ten or...1677, John Beale, “To the Much Honoured and Worthy Henry Oldenburg, Esq.; Secretary to the Royal Society”, in Nurseries, Orchards, Profitable Gardens, and Vineyards Encouraged, […], London: Printed...

See all 10 meanings of nursery