noun

• (countable) A place where nursing (“breastfeeding”) or the raising of children is carried on.
• (by extension) Especially in European countries: a room or area in a household set apart for the care of children.
• A place where the pre-school children of working parents are supervised during the day; a crèche, a daycare centre.
• A nursery school (“a school where pre-school children learn and play at the same time”).
• (Philippines) The first year of pre-school.
• (countable, also figuratively) A place where anything is fostered and growth promoted.
• (agriculture, zoology) A place where animals breed, or where young animals are naturally or artificially reared (for example, on a farm).
• (horticulture) A place where young shrubs, trees, vines, etc., are cultivated for transplanting, or (more generally) made available for public sale, a garden centre; also (obsolete) a plantation of young trees.
• (sports) A club or team for developing the skills of young players.
• (countable) Something which educates and nurtures.
• (countable, obsolete, rare) Someone or something that is nursed; a nursling.
• (uncountable, obsolete) The act of nursing or rearing.
• (countable, billiards) Short for nursery cannon (“a carom shot involving balls that are very close together”). [(billiards) A carom shot involving balls that are very close together.]