Definition

1. Noun:
   • A facility providing supervision and care for preschool-aged children during the day, typically while their parents or guardians are at work or otherwise occupied. This is the standard and primary meaning of the term.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The company provides an on-site day care center for its employees' children.
  • She drops her son off at the day care center every morning at 8 a.m.
  • The new day care center has a great outdoor play area.

Advanced Usage

• "to place a child in day care": to enroll a child in a day care center.
  • They decided to place their toddler in day care so they could both return to work.

Variants and Related Words

• Day care (n): The general service of caring for children during the day. Often used interchangeably with "day care center," though it can refer to the concept or service in a home setting as well.

  • Finding affordable day care is a challenge for many families.

• Daycare (n): A common alternative spelling, often used as a single word.

  • The daycare is closed on public holidays.

• Nursery school (n): A school for very young children, often with a greater emphasis on early education than basic supervision, but the terms can overlap.

Synonyms

• Childcare center: A facility offering professional care for children.
• Preschool: An educational establishment for young children, which may also provide care.

Related Phrases

• Day care provider: An individual or organization that offers day care services.

  • We interviewed several day care providers before choosing one.

• Day care worker / staff: The employees who work at a day care center.

  • The day care workers are trained in early childhood development.

Noun

1. a nursery for the supervision of preschool children while the parents work