n.
Pronunciation: ' n ə rs
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English norice, norce, nurse, from Anglo-French nurice, from Late Latin nutricia, from Latin, feminine of nutricius nourishing ― more at NUTRITIOUS
Date: 13th century
1 a : a woman who suckles an infant not her own : WET NURSE b : a woman who takes care of a young child : DRY NURSE
2 : one that looks after, fosters, or advises
3 : a person who cares for the sick or infirm specifically : a licensed health-care professional who practices independently or is supervised by a physician, surgeon, or dentist and who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health ― compare LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE , REGISTERED NURSE
4 a : a worker form of a social insect (as an ant or a bee) that cares for the young b : a female mammal used to suckle the young of another