nurse: Meaning and Definition of

nurse

Pronunciation: (nûrs), [key]
— nursed, nurs•ing.
—v.t.
  1. to tend or minister to in sickness, infirmity, etc.
  2. to try to cure (an ailment) by taking care of oneself: to nurse a cold.
  3. to look after carefully so as to promote growth, development, etc.; foster; cherish: to nurse one's meager talents.
  4. to treat or handle with adroit care in order to further one's own interests: to nurse one's nest egg.
  5. to use, consume, or dispense very slowly or carefully: He nursed the one drink all evening.
  6. to keep steadily in mind or memory: He nursed a grudge against me all the rest of his life.
  7. to suckle (an infant).
  8. to feed and tend in infancy.
  9. to bring up, train, or nurture.
  10. to clasp or handle carefully or fondly: to nurse a plate of food on one's lap.
  11. to maintain the position of (billiard balls) for a series of caroms.
—v.i.
  1. to suckle a child, esp. one's own.
  2. (of a child) to suckle: The child did not nurse after he was three months old.
  3. to act as nurse; tend the sick or infirm.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: