The word 'nurture' is used as both a verb and a noun. 'To nurture someone or something is to care for it and protect it while they are growing. "He was a nurturing father to his two sons." "She nurtured the plant so that it took over half of the windowsill." You can 'nurture' a talent by encouraging it or helping it to develop. "His grandmother nurtured his talent by forcing him to practise each day after school." To can also 'nurture an ambition' or 'nourish a desire'. "They nurtured a secret desire to escape the city someday." As a noun, 'the nurture' of something refers to the process of nurturing something or someone. "The nurturing of trees and wildlife is intrinsic to our environmental plan." It can also refer to environmental factors as opposed to inherent characteristics. "Scientists often use genetically identical twins to study the differences nature over nurture makes to a persons' development."