nurse

[ nurs ]

noun

1. a person formally educated and trained in the care of the sick or infirm. Compare nurse-midwife, nurse-practitioner, physician's assistant, practical nurse, registered nurse.
2. a woman who has the general care of a child or children; dry nurse.
3. a woman employed to suckle an infant; wet nurse.
4. any fostering agency or influence.
5. Entomology. a worker that attends the young in a colony of social insects.
6. Billiards. the act of maintaining the position of billiard balls in preparation for a carom.

verb (used with object)

, nursed, nurs·ing.

1. to tend or minister to in sickness, infirmity, etc.

   Antonyms: neglect

2. to try to cure (an ailment) by taking care of oneself:

   to nurse a cold.

3. to look after carefully so as to promote growth, development, etc.; foster; cherish:

   to nurse one's meager talents.

   Synonyms: back, aid, help, abet, encourage

   Antonyms: neglect

4. to treat or handle with adroit care in order to further one's own interests:

   to nurse one's nest egg.

5. to use, consume, or dispense very slowly or carefully:

   He nursed the one drink all evening.

6. to keep steadily in mind or memory:

   He nursed a grudge against me all the rest of his life.

7. to suckle (an infant).
8. to feed and tend in infancy.

   Synonyms: raise, rear

9. to bring up, train, or nurture.
10. to clasp or handle carefully or fondly:

    to nurse a plate of food on one's lap.

11. Billiards. to maintain the position of (billiard balls) for a series of caroms.

verb (used without object)

, nursed, nurs·ing.

1. to suckle a child, especially one's own.
2. (of a child) to suckle:

   The child did not nurse after he was three months old.

3. to act as nurse; tend the sick or infirm.

nurse

/ nɜːs /

noun

1. a person who tends the sick, injured, or infirm
2. short for nursemaid
3. a woman employed to breast-feed another woman's child; wet nurse
4. a worker in a colony of social insects that takes care of the larvae

verb

1. also intr to tend (the sick)
2. also intr to feed (a baby) at the breast; suckle
3. to try to cure (an ailment)
4. to clasp carefully or fondly

   she nursed the crying child in her arms

5. also intr (of a baby) to suckle at the breast (of)
6. to look after (a child) as one's employment
7. to attend to carefully; foster, cherish

   he nursed the magazine through its first year

   having a very small majority he nursed the constituency diligently

8. to harbour; preserve

   to nurse a grudge

9. billiards to keep (the balls) together for a series of cannons

Other Words From

• non·nursing adjective
• over·nurse verb (used with object) overnursed overnursing
• under·nurse noun
• well-nursed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nurse¹

First recorded before 1350–1400; (noun) Middle English, variant of n(o)urice, norice, from Old French, from Late Latin nūtrīcia, noun use of feminine of Latin nūtrīcius nutritious; (verb) earlier nursh (reduced form of nourish ), assimilated to the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of nurse¹

C16: from earlier norice, Old French nourice, from Late Latin nūtrīcia nurse, from Latin nūtrīcius nourishing, from nūtrīre to nourish

Synonym Study

Nurse, nourish, nurture may be used almost interchangeably to refer to bringing up the young. Nurse, however, suggests attendance and service; nourish emphasizes providing whatever is needful for development; and nurture suggests tenderness and solicitude in training mind and manners.

Example Sentences

The panel heard that Ms Robinson had worked as a mental health nurse at the hospital, which provided in-patient care for men with complex and challenging mental health conditions.

From BBC

A nurse who admitted having a relationship with an "extremely vulnerable" mental health patient under her care has been suspended for 12 months.

From BBC

It has also emerged that, in the previous year, a liver nurse only approved the associate's competence in using the equipment because she assumed he was a doctor.

From BBC

Tommy Dorfman manages the strange pairing of Tybalt and the Nurse.

From Los Angeles Times

Allison Tolman plays newly promoted supervising nurse Alex, at the center of things in terms of action and authority, and more or less the stand-in for the viewer.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assistant
• attendant
• medic
• registered nurse
• therapist