Standard Lemma guide

nursemaid

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A woman or girl employed to care for children.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To tend to as a nursemaid.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To care for or look after.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: colloquial

Examples

  • I don't believe I have to nursemaid these two rookies through their entire probationary period.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a woman who is the custodian of children

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: nanny, nurse

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: keeper, woman, adult female

Narrower terms: dry nurse, mammy, wet nurse, wet-nurse, wetnurse, amah

History

Etymology

From nurse + maid.

Across languages

Translations

25 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: դայակ (dayak) — child's nurse
  • Bulgarian: бавачка (bavačka) — child's nurse
  • Dutch: kindermeisje — child's nurse
  • Esperanto: vanjo — child's nurse
  • Finnish: lastenhoitaja — child's nurse
  • French: nounou — child's nurse
  • French: nourrice — child's nurse
  • French: bonne d'enfants — child's nurse
  • Greek: νταντά (ntantá) — child's nurse
  • Italian: bambinaia — child's nurse
  • Italian: babysitter — child's nurse
  • Italian: tata — child's nurse
  • Latvian: aukle — child's nurse
  • Macedonian: дадилка (dadilka) — child's nurse
  • Norwegian Bokmål: barnepike — child's nurse
  • Norwegian Bokmål: barnepasser — child's nurse
  • Portuguese: babá — child's nurse
  • Russian: ня́ня (njánja) — child's nurse
  • Serbo-Croatian: sluškinja — child's nurse
  • Spanish: niñera — child's nurse
  • Spanish: nana — child's nurse
  • Swedish: barnflicka — child's nurse
  • Swedish: barnpassare — child's nurse
  • Volapük: cilikälädan — child's nurse
  • Volapük: cilijikälädan — child's nurse