Nursery has several related meanings, all connected to caring for young things that are growing:

1. A room in a house where babies and young children sleep, play, and are cared for. Parents set up a nursery before their baby is born, with a crib, changing table, and toys.
2. A place where plants are grown and cared for until they're ready to be sold or planted elsewhere. At a plant nursery, you'll find rows of young trees, flowers, and shrubs in pots, all being tended until gardeners buy them. Nursery workers water the plants, protect them from pests, and make sure they grow strong and healthy.
3. Short for nursery school, a school for very young children, usually ages three to five, before they start kindergarten. At nursery school, children learn through play, make friends, and practice basic skills like sharing and following directions.

The common thread is nurturing: whether it's babies, plants, or preschoolers, a nursery is a protected place where young, vulnerable living things receive special care while they grow stronger and more independent.