I. ˈnər-chər noun
Etymology: Middle English norture, nurture, from Anglo-French nureture, from Late Latin nutritura act of nursing, from Latin nutritus, past participle of nutrire to suckle, nourish — more at nourish
Date: 14th century
1. : training , upbringing
2. : something that nourishes : food
3. : the sum of the environmental factors influencing the behavior and traits expressed by an organism
II. transitive verb
( nur·tured ; nur·tur·ing ˈnərch-riŋ, ˈnər-chə-)
Date: 15th century
1. : to supply with nourishment
2. : educate
3. : to further the development of : foster
• nur·tur·er ˈnər-chər-ər noun