1. Something that nourishes; sustenance. 2. The act of bringing up. 3.Biology The sum of environmental influences and conditions acting on an organism.
TRANSITIVE VERB:
Inflected forms: nur·tured, nur·tur·ing, nur·tures 1. To nourish; feed. 2. To educate; train. 3. To help grow or develop; cultivate: nurture a student's talent.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin ntrtra, act of suckling, from Latin ntrtus, past participle of ntrre, to suckle. See (s)nu- in Appendix I.
OTHER FORMS:
nurtur·er —NOUN
SYNONYMS:
nurture, cultivate, foster, nurse These verbs mean to promote and sustain the growth and development of: nurturing hopes; cultivating tolerance; foster friendly relations; nursed the fledgling business.
nûr
ch
r
tr
t
u- in Appendix I.
