nurture
NER-cher
/ˈnɜːrtʃər/
To care for and encourage the growth or development of someone or something.
Nurture implies a long-term, loving commitment to development, often contrasted with nature (genetic inheritance).
The story behind the word. The word nurture flows directly from the Latin verb nutrire, meaning 'to nourish or suckle.' In Middle English, it arrived as 'norture,' referring to the breeding or bringing up of children. It has always carried the warm connotation of feeding both the body and the mind.
Word relationships
- foster: Foster emphasizes encouraging or promoting growth, often in a temporary or structured setting, whereas nurture implies a deeper, more intimate caregiving relationship.
- cultivate: Cultivate is often used for skills, crops, or relationships, focusing on the process of refinement, while nurture is more closely tied to organic, parental-like care.
- neglect: Neglect means to fail to care for properly, which is the direct opposite of actively caring for and encouraging growth.
- hinder: Hinder means to create obstacles to progress, whereas nurture actively supports and accelerates development.
Commonly confused with
- nature: Nature refers to genetic or inherent characteristics, while nurture refers to environmental influences and care.
Word family
- nurturer (noun): A person who nurtures or cares for others.
- nurturing (adjective): Providing care, support, and encouragement.
Collocations
- nurture a talent
- nurture growth
- nature versus nurture
- nurturing environment
Example sentences
- "The ongoing debate of nature versus nurture attempts to parse how much of our personality is inherited and how much is shaped by our environment." A classic debate in psychology regarding human development.
- "She sought to nurture her student's natural artistic talent by providing him with high-quality paints and private lessons." Discussing the growth of a young artist's talent.
Memory hook
Think of a nurse who nurtures patients back to health by nourishing them with care. Nurture is all about nourishing growth.
When not to use
Do not use nurture when you simply mean to feed or physically support someone without any emotional or developmental care.
Fun facts
- In medieval times, 'nurture' referred specifically to the training and manners taught to young nobles, not just basic physical care.
Explore more words
foster, cherish, tenderness, upbringing, incubation, stimulate
Also appears in
- Leadership → Mentorship & Guidance
- Relationships → Support & Advocacy
- Psychology → Developmental Stages & Maturation
- Education & Pedagogy → Early Childhood Education
- Education & Pedagogy → Extracurricular & Enrichment
- Education & Pedagogy → Teacher Roles & Mentorship
- Psychology → Child & Adolescent Development
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