nurse

(nûrs)

1. A person educated and trained to care for the sick or disabled.
2. a. A woman employed to take care of a child; a nursemaid.
   b. A woman employed to suckle children other than her own; a wet nurse.
3. One that serves as a nurturing or fostering influence or means: “Town life is the nurse of civilization” (C.L.R. James).
4. Zoology A worker ant or bee that feeds and cares for the colony's young.

1. To serve as a nurse for: nursed the patient back to health.
2. a. To cause or allow to take milk from the breast: a mother nursing her baby.
   b. To feed at the breast of; suckle.
3. To try to cure by special care or treatment: nurse a cough with various remedies.
4. To treat carefully, especially in order to prevent pain: He nursed his injured knee by shifting his weight to the other leg.
5. To manage or guide carefully; look after with care; foster: nursed her business through the depression. See Synonyms at nurture.
6. To bear privately in the mind: nursing a grudge.
7. To consume slowly, especially in order to conserve: nursed one drink all evening.

1. To serve as a nurse.
2. To take nourishment from the breast; suckle.

Related Forms:

• nursˈer noun