Nurture

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈnɜːɹ.tʃəɹ/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)tʃə(ɹ)

Origin

From Middle English norture, noriture, from Old French norriture, norreture, from Late Latin nutritura ("nourishment"), from Latin nutrire ("to nourish").

Full definition of nurture

Noun

1. The act of nourishing or nursing; tender care; education; training.
2. That which nourishes; food; diet.
3. The environmental influences that contribute to the development of an individual; see also nature.
• MiltonA man neither by nature nor by nurture wise.

Verb

1. To nourish or nurse.
2. (figuratively, by extension) To encourage, especially the growth or development of something.
• 2009, UNESCO, The United Nations World Water Development Report – N° 3 - 2009 – Freshwater and International Law (the Interplay between Universal, Regional and Basin Perspectives), page 10, ISBN 9231041363The relationships between universal norms and specific norms nurture the development of international law.

Related terms

• nourish
• nourishment
• nurse
• nursery
• nurturance
• nutrient
• nutriment
• nutrition
• nutritional
• nutritious
• nutritive