Nursery Definition: Childcare Center & How to Use It

Meaning 1：childcare center (nursery)

nursery 🔊

/ˈnɜːrsəri/

A place where young children, especially under the age of three, are cared for and educated while their parents are at work.

childcare center 🔊

➕

/ˈtʃaɪldˌkɛr ˈsɛntər/

A place where young children, typically under three years old, are looked after and often provided with early education while their parents are at work.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from Latin 'nutricius' (to nourish) + suffix '-ery' (place for).

💡 Mnemonic

A nurse in a nursery cares for little ones.

📖 Example

The local nursery has a lovely outdoor play area full of safe toys and colorful plants. 🔊 The local nursery has a lovely outdoor play area full of safe toys and colorful plants.

🔗 Collocations

nursery school – a school for children aged three to five, providing early education

nursery class – a class within a school for the youngest children

nursery care – the supervision and care provided to babies and toddlers

🔄 Synonyms

daycare center (n.) – a facility where children are cared for during the day

preschool (n.) – a school for children below the age of five

kindergarten (n.) – a class for children aged four to six, preparing for primary school

🚫 Antonyms

workplace (n.) – a place where adults perform their jobs

home (n.) – a place where family lives, opposite to a childcare institution

📖 Cultural Story

Originally from Latin 'nutrix' (nurse). In 14th century, referred to a room for children. Modern nurseries became common with 19th-century early childhood education.