nurture

Universal Words verb, noun verb [VN] (formal) 1 to care for and protect sb/sth while they are growing and developing: These delicate plants need careful nurturing. * children nurtured by loving parents 2 to help sb/sth to develop and be successful: It's important to nurture a good working relationship. * My father nurtured a love of art in me. * Her teacher recognized and nurtured her musical talent from an early age. 3 to have a feeling, an idea, a plan, etc. for a long time and encourage it to develop: She secretly nurtured a hope of becoming famous. * He had long nurtured a deep hatred of his brother. noun [U] (formal) care, encouragement and support given to sb/sth while they are growing: The study seems to show that nurture is more important than nature in shaping a child's character and future prospects. * These plants will need careful nurture.