nurturing
nurturing — verb
- nurturingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- nurturings3rd person singular
- nurturinging-ing form
- nurturingedpast simple
1. to give steady care and support so a child, animal, plant, or ability can grow w
to give steady care and support so a child, animal, plant, or ability can grow well.
Mira spent every afternoon nurturing tomato plants on the apartment roof.
nurture + plant
Theo is nurturing two orphaned kittens until they are strong enough for adoption.
The teacher kept nurturing Hana's confidence after her difficult first term.
Patient coaches are good at nurturing young players through hard seasons.
文法句型
nurture + child/animal/plant
nurture + skill/confidence
用法筆記
Object is usually a living thing or a quality that can be helped to grow, such as confidence or talent. This sense often suggests patient, repeated care over time.
2. to encourage a plan, relationship, skill, or person so it becomes stronger and m
to encourage a plan, relationship, skill, or person so it becomes stronger and more successful.
The director is nurturing a small idea into a full documentary series.
nurture + idea into + result
Local grants are nurturing young designers who want to start studios.
Regular family dinners helped the couple keep nurturing their marriage.
The bank is nurturing several village businesses with low-interest loans.
文法句型
nurture + plan/project
nurture + relationship/business
用法筆記
This sense is broader than sense 1 and often applies to projects, businesses, relationships, or careers rather than direct physical care. It focuses on guiding something toward success.
3. to keep an emotion, hope, plan, or belief active in your mind over many months o
to keep an emotion, hope, plan, or belief active in your mind over many months or years.
Layla kept nurturing hopes of opening her own bakery by the sea.
nurture + hope
Christopher spent years nurturing anger about the unfair dismissal.
After the workshop, Indra was nurturing a plan for a community garden.
Sophia had been nurturing doubts about the move for several months.
- harbour
more formal, especially with negative feelings or secret thoughts
- hold on to
more informal and often used for feelings or hopes
- cherish
warmer and more positive than nurture in this sense
文法句型
nurture + hope/dream
nurture + anger/grudge
用法筆記
The object is usually a lasting inner state such as hope, resentment, doubt, or an ambition. Distinguish from sense 2: here the thing being helped to continue is in the mind, not in the outside world.
nurturing — noun
1. the care, guidance, and encouragement given while someone, especially a child, i
the care, guidance, and encouragement given while someone, especially a child, is growing up.
Warm nurturing at home helped the twins feel safe after the move.
warm nurturing at home
Good teachers combine discipline with nurturing in the early school years.
Many rescue dogs need patient nurturing before they trust people again.
The grandparents provided steady nurturing while both parents worked nights.
- upbringing
focuses more on how a child is raised overall
- care
broader and more neutral, without the same idea of emotional growth
- guidance
emphasises advice and direction more than warmth
- neglect
lack of proper care or support
文法句型
provide nurturing
receive nurturing
need nurturing
用法筆記
Usually uncountable. It often refers to the emotional and practical support that helps children, young people, or animals feel secure and develop well.
2. the family, social, and environmental influence that shapes a person's character
the family, social, and environmental influence that shapes a person's character, instead of inborn qualities.
The lecture explored how nurturing and biology both affect language development.
nurturing and biology
Researchers debated whether kindness comes more from nurturing than inheritance.
nurturing than inheritance
Her book argues that early nurturing shapes confidence more than natural talent.
The class compared the power of nurturing with the effects of genes.
- environment
broader term for the conditions around a person
- upbringing
narrower and more personal, focused on family raising
- socialisation
formal term for learning the habits of a group or society
- nature
inborn qualities rather than learned influence
文法句型
nurturing versus nature
effects of nurturing on development
用法筆記
Often appears in discussions that compare life experience with inherited qualities. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense names outside influence as a factor in human development, not the day-to-day care itself.