WordWeb Online

1. One skilled in caring for young children or the sick (usually under the supervision of a physician)
   - sister [Brit]
    
2. A woman who is the custodian of children
   - nanny, nursemaid

1. Try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
   "He nursed his cold with Chinese herbs"
    
2. Maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
   - harbor [N. Amer], harbour [Brit, Cdn], hold, entertain
    
3. Serve as a nurse; care for sick or handicapped people
    
4. Treat carefully
   "He nursed his injured back by lying in bed several hours every afternoon"; "He nursed the flowers in his garden and fertilized them regularly"
    
5. Give suck to
   "You cannot nurse your baby in public in some places"
   - breastfeed, suckle, suck, wet-nurse, lactate, give suck

Derived forms: nurses, nursing, nursed

See also: nurser, nursery, nursing

Type of: adult female, care, care for, caregiver [N. Amer], carer [Brit], do by, experience, feed, feel, give, give care, handle, health care provider, health professional, keeper, PCP, primary care provider, treat, woman

Part of: nurse-patient relation

Encyclopedia: Nurse