nurture

Short definition from Wiktionary

Noun

1. 1
   The act of nourishing or nursing; tender care
2. 2
   That which nourishes; food; diet.
3. 3
   The environmental influences that contribute to a person’s development (as opposed to "nature").
4. 4
   The act or process of encouraging the growth or development of something.

Verb

1. 1
   To nourish or nurse.
2. 2
   To encourage, especially the growth or development of something.