nursery
NUR-suh-ree
/ˈnɜːrsəri/
A room in a house for the special use of young children or a baby.
In the context of pregnancy, it refers to the room being prepared for the newborn.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'nutrire', meaning to nourish or suckle. A nursery was originally the place where a 'nurse' would care for and feed the children of a wealthy household.
Word relationships
- baby's room: Baby's room is more informal; nursery implies a dedicated, fully-equipped space.
Commonly confused with
- playroom: A nursery is for sleeping and infant care; a playroom is for older children's toys and activities.
Word family
- nurse (noun/verb): A person trained to care for the sick; to feed a baby at the breast.
Collocations
- nursery rhyme
- nursery furniture
- day nursery
- set up a nursery
Example sentences
- "They spent the weekend painting the nursery a soft shade of sage green." Home preparation
- "The newborn was briefly taken to the hospital nursery for a checkup." Hospital setting
Memory hook
A 'nursery' is where you 'nurse' and care for a baby. The baby's room.
When not to use
In gardening, a nursery is a place where plants are grown for sale. Context usually makes the difference clear.
Fun facts
- In the 18th century, the 'nursery' was often located in the attic or a remote part of the house to keep the noise of children away from the adults.
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