nur·ture / ˈnərchər/ • v. [tr.] care for and encourage the growth or development of: fig. my father nurtured my love of art. ∎  cherish (a hope, belief, or ambition): for a long time she had nurtured the dream of buying a shop.• n. the process of caring for and encouraging the growth or development of someone or something: the nurture of ethics and integrity. ∎  upbringing, education, and environment, contrasted with inborn characteristics as an influence on or determinant of personality. Often contrasted with nature.DERIVATIVES: nur·tur·er n.

nurture †upbringing; †nourishment XIV; fostering care XVII. — OF. nourture, contr. of noureture (mod. nourriture), f. nourrir NOURISH; see -URE.
Hence vb. XV.

nurture See NATURE VERSUS NURTURE DEBATE.