noun

1. wet nurse
2. a woman hired to take full care of another's young child or children; nursemaid
3. a person trained to take care of the sick, injured, or aged, to assist surgeons, etc.; specif., a registered nurse or a practical nurse
4. a person or thing that nourishes, fosters, protects, etc.
5. Zool. a worker bee or ant that cares for the young

Etymology: ME norse < OFr norice < LL nutricia < L nutricius, that suckles or nourishes < nutrix (gen. nutricis), wet nurse < nutrire, to nourish < IE *(s)neu-, var. of base *(s)nā-, to flow > natant, Sans snāuti, (she) gives milk, Gr naein, to flow

transitive verb nursed, nursing nurs′·ing

1. to give milk from the breast to (an infant); suckle
2. to suck milk from the breast of
3. to take care of (a child or children)
4. to bring up; rear
5. to tend (the sick, injured, or aged)
6. to cause to continue, grow, or develop; nourish or foster to nurse a grudge
7. to treat, or try to cure to nurse a cold
8. 1. to use, operate, or handle cautiously or carefully, so as to avoid injury, pain, exhaustion, etc. to nurse an injured leg
   2. to consume, spend, etc. slowly or carefully so as to conserve to nurse a highball
9. to clasp; hold carefully; fondle
10. Billiards to keep (the balls) close together for a series of caroms

intransitive verb

1. to be suckled; feed at the breast
2. to suckle a child
3. to tend the sick, injured, etc. as a nurse