nurture
Noun:
- The process of caring for and encouraging the growth or development of someone or something: "Nurture" refers to the upbringing, training, education, and environmental influences that shape an individual's development, often contrasted with inborn qualities ("nature").
- The act of providing sustenance or nourishment: In a more literal sense, "nurture" can mean the provision of food and care necessary for physical growth.
Verb:
- To care for and encourage the growth or development of someone or something: This involves providing emotional, intellectual, and moral support.
- To feed or nourish: To provide the food and care needed for someone, especially a child or young animal, to grow and be healthy.
Noun: The debate between nature and nurture is central to psychology. (Here, "nurture" refers to all environmental and experiential influences on development.) Good nurture in the early years is crucial for a child's future. (This refers to the quality of care and upbringing.)
Verb: Parents strive to nurture their children's talents and confidence. (This means to encourage and support their development.) It is a mother bird's instinct to nurture her chicks. (This means to feed and care for them.)
"Nature versus nurture": A classic debate concerning the relative importance of an individual's innate qualities ("nature") versus personal experiences ("nurture") in determining or causing differences in physical and behavioral traits. The study aims to understand the balance of nature versus nurture in personality formation.
As a concept in developmental psychology: "Nurture" is used as a broad term encompassing all environmental variables that impact who we are, including early childhood experiences, social relationships, and culture.
- Nurturing (adjective): Providing care and encouragement for growth and development.
- Nurturer (noun): A person who nurtures.
- Noun: Upbringing, rearing, training, cultivation, nourishment.
- Verb: Foster, cultivate, encourage, support, raise, bring up, nourish.
- To nurture a relationship: To carefully develop and maintain a positive connection with someone.
- To nurture an idea: To develop a thought or plan carefully over time.
- "Nurture over nature": A phrase emphasizing the belief that upbringing and environment are more influential than genetics. (This is a direct reference to the "nature vs. nurture" debate.)
- helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community
- they debated whether nature or nurture was more important
- the properties acquired as a consequence of the way you were treated as a child
- provide with nourishment
- We sustained ourselves on bread and water
- This kind of food is not nourishing for young children
- bring up
- raise a family
- bring up children
- help develop, help grow
- nurture his talents