A.feeder, rearer, Hom. only in Od. and always fem. of a nurse, “φίλη τ. Εὐρύκλεια” 2.361, al., cf. Hdt.2.156,6.61, LXX Ge.35.8, PCair.Zen.292.157 (iii B. C.), Glotta 16.274 (Egypt), Sor.1.105, al., Gal.6.36, etc.; “ἡ τ. βασιλέως” Sammelb.4980 (i B. C.); of a mother, S.Aj.849.—The masc. was usu. τροφεύς (q. v.); but τροφός as masc. occurs in E.HF45, El.409, Pl.Plt.268a, 268c.
2. metaph., of a city, “Συράκοσαι, ἀνδρῶν ἵππων τε δαιμόνιαι τροφοί” Pi.P. 2.2; “Γῇ τε μητρί, φιλτάτῃ τροφῷ” A.Th.16; “αἵματ᾽ ἐκποθένθ᾽ ὑπὸ χθονὸς τροφοῦ” Id.Ch.66 (lyr.), cf. S.OT1092 (lyr.), OC760; “μήτηρ ἁπάντων γαῖα καὶ κοινὴ τ.” Men.Mon.617; “νὺξ ἄστρων τ.” E.El.54; “τὴν γεωργίαν τῶν ἄλλων τεχνῶν μητέρα καὶ τ.” X.Oec.5.17, cf. Pl.Plt.267d; of Miletus, “τ. τοῦ . . Ἀπόλλωνος” SIG906A5 (iv A. D.).
3. in neut., “τὸ τροφόν” that which nourishes, Pl.Plt.289a.
