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.
a woman who has the general care of a child or children; dry nurse.
a woman employed to suckle an infant; wet nurse.
any fostering agency or influence.
Entomology. a worker that attends the young in a colony of social insects.
Billiards. the act of maintaining the position of billiard balls in preparation for a carom.
verb (used with object),nursed,nurs·ing.
to tend or minister to in sickness, infirmity, etc.
to try to cure (an ailment) by taking care of oneself: to nurse a cold.
to look after carefully so as to promote growth, development, etc.; foster; cherish: to nurse one's meager talents.
to treat or handle with adroit care in order to further one's own interests: to nurse one's nest egg.
to use, consume, or dispense very slowly or carefully: He nursed the one drink all evening.
to keep steadily in mind or memory: He nursed a grudge against me all the rest of his life.
to suckle (an infant).
to feed and tend in infancy.
to bring up, train, or nurture.
to clasp or handle carefully or fondly: to nurse a plate of food on one's lap.
Billiards. to maintain the position of (billiard balls) for a series of caroms.
verb (used without object),nursed,nurs·ing.
to suckle a child, especially one's own.
(of a child) to suckle: The child did not nurse after he was three months old.
to act as nurse; tend the sick or infirm.
Origin of nurse
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 nūtrīciusnutritious; (verb) earlier nursh (reduced form of nourish), assimilated to the noun
SYNONYMS FOR nurse
9 encourage, abet, help, aid, back.
14 rear, raise.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR nurse ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR nurse
7, 9 neglect.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR nurse ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for nurse
14. 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.
OTHER WORDS FROM nurse
non·nurs·ing,adjectiveo·ver·nurse,verb (used with object),o·ver·nursed,o·ver·nurs·ing.un·der·nurse,nounwell-nursed,adjective
Words nearby nurse
Nuri as-Said, Nuristan, Nuristani, Nurmi, Nürnberg, nurse, nurse a drink, nurse a grudge, nurse anesthetist, nurse crop, nursehound
Inspectors, who are registered nurses, review a nursing home’s compliance history, observe operations, interview residents and staff and examine medical records.
Confirmed Nursing Home Complaints Plummet During Pandemic|Jared Whitlock|August 25, 2020|Voice of San Diego
She told investigators she overheard a nurse say she’d been quarantined because of her home ZIP code.
Federal Investigation Finds Hospital Violated Patients’ Rights by Profiling, Separating Native Mothers and Newborns|by Bryant Furlow, New Mexico In Depth|August 22, 2020|ProPublica
If the researchers spot unusual or worrying patterns, the patients are invited to speak with a nurse.
Machines can spot mental health issues—if you hand over your personal data|Bobbie Johnson|August 13, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Perhaps they are college students on spring break, or hospital nurses, or people who touch their face all the time.
Population immunity is slowing down the pandemic in parts of the US|David Rotman|August 11, 2020|MIT Technology Review
According to reports, doctors, nurses, and teachers will be given the shot first when enough supplies of the vaccine are ready in October, and it could reach the general public by January.
Russia says it has a covid vaccine called “Sputnik-V”|Antonio Regalado|August 11, 2020|MIT Technology Review
At the hospital, I was told to wait, and was given some tea by a nurse.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything|Liz Seccuro|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I learn by the third day to tell the nurse privately to make mine mostly orange juice.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then Allison went back to Pacey, and Noah went back to Nurse Abby from E.R.
How Will They End ‘The Affair’? Showtime’s Adultery Drama Defies Predictability|Tim Teeman|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She set a career nominations record with her 21st nod—all in the TV fields—for Best Actress in a Comedy for Nurse Jackie.
Jennifer Aniston, Oscar Nominee? 5 Takeaways from the 2015 SAG Award Nominations|Kevin Fallon|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Phyllis, who was a nurse, went down to Mississippi to provide medical care for people like Joan.
Eric Garner Protests: ‘It’s Like Vietnam’|Abby Haglage, Caitlin Dickson, Jacob Siegel, Chris Allbritton|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We found that Mrs. Spiker had secured her rights, and was on duty that day as nurse.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
And no company had she but her foster-sister, and an old woman who had been her nurse.
The Red Romance Book|Various
Ah, but there was my sweet little St. Sulpice girl, with her nurse, or companion.
Donahoe's Magazine, Vol. XV, No. 4, April, 1886|Various
Louis soon recovered; indeed with such a nurse he could not fail to get well.
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, No. 351|Various
Little Thais loved Ahmes like a father, like a mother, like a nurse, and like a dog.
Thais|Anatole France
British Dictionary definitions for nurse
nurse
/ (nɜːs) /
noun
a person who tends the sick, injured, or infirm
short for nursemaid
a woman employed to breast-feed another woman's child; wet nurse
a worker in a colony of social insects that takes care of the larvae
verb(mainly tr)
(also intr)to tend (the sick)
(also intr)to feed (a baby) at the breast; suckle
to try to cure (an ailment)
to clasp carefully or fondlyshe nursed the crying child in her arms
(also intr)(of a baby) to suckle at the breast (of)
to look after (a child) as one's employment
to attend to carefully; foster, cherishhe nursed the magazine through its first year; having a very small majority he nursed the constituency diligently
to harbour; preserveto nurse a grudge
billiardsto keep (the balls) together for a series of cannons
Word Origin for nurse
C16: from earlier norice, Old French nourice, from Late Latin nūtrīcia nurse, from Latin nūtrīcius nourishing, from nūtrīre to nourish
assistant, attendant, therapist, medic, registered nurse, feed, nourish, vaccinate, cradle, keep an eye on, take care of, look after, caretaker, sitter, minder, pamper, immunize, further, cultivate, humor
Medical definitions for nurse
nurse
[ nûrs ]
n.
A person trained to care for the sick or disabled, especially one educated in the scientific basis of human response to health problems and trained to assist a physician.
A wet nurse.
An individual who cares for an infant or young child.
v.
To serve as a nurse.
To provide or take nourishment from the breast; suckle.