/ ˈnæni; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
a woman whose job is to take care of young children in the children's own home
2.
(also nan ) (both BrE ) (used by children, especially as a form of address) a grandmother :
When is Nanny coming to stay?
my nan and grandad
—see also granny
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IDIOMS
- the nanny state
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WORD ORIGIN
early 18th cent.: pet form of the given name Ann .