nurturer

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

nur•ture /ˈnɜrtʃɚ/   v., -tured, -tur•ing, n. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to feed;
   supply with nourishment.
2. to encourage or provide moral support:
   He nurtured his students in their studies.
3. to bring up;
   train;
   educate.

n. [uncountable]

4. upbringing;
   training;
   education;
   development:
   providing for the nurture of young artists.
5. something that nourishes;
   nourishment;
   food.

nur•tur•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

nur•ture  (nûr′chər), v., -tured, -tur•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to feed and protect:
   to nurture one's offspring.
2. to support and encourage, as during the period of training or development;
   foster:
   to nurture promising musicians.
3. to bring up;
   train;
   educate.

n. 

4. rearing, upbringing, training, education, or the like.
5. development:
   the nurture of young artists.
6. something that nourishes;
   nourishment;
   food.

• Late Latin nūtrītūra a nourishing, equivalent. to Latin nūtrīt(us) (past participle of nūtrīre to feed, nourish) + -ūra -ure; (verb, verbal) derivative of the noun, nominal
• Middle French, variant of nourriture
• (noun, nominal) Middle English norture 1300–50

nur′tur•a•ble, adj. 
nur′ture•less, adj. 
nur′tur•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1, 3. See nurse.