Showing Results for "cultured"

See Also:

• past participle of culture.
• past tense form of culture.

cultured

American  

[kuhl-cherd] / ˈkʌl tʃərd /

adjective

1. having or characterized by culture; refined; enlightened.

   civilized and cultured peoples; music and other cultured pursuits.

   Synonyms:

   genteel, elegant, sophisticated, polished

2. artificially nurtured or grown.

   cultured bacteria.

3. cultivated; tilled.

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cultured British  

/ ˈkʌltʃəd /

adjective

1. showing or having good taste, manners, upbringing, and education

2. artificially grown or synthesized

   cultured pearls

3. sport of superior quality, as though the product of special training

   a cultured left foot

   a cultured backhand

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncultured
  adjective
• well-cultured
  adjective
• semicultured
  adjective
• overcultured
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cultured

First recorded in 1550–745; culture + -ed ²

Explanation

A cultured person usually enjoys art, music, expensive restaurants, and other things considered fancy or educated. An old lady sipping tea with one pinkie sticking out, wearing a flowered hat, and listing to Brahms (the classical composer) would be many people's idea of someone cultured. A cultured person is also called refined, genteel, civilized, and cultivated. Cultured people have good manners and etiquette. However, being cultured is in the eye of the beholder, because there are so many different cultures in the world. It's difficult to be cultured in more than one culture.

Related Words

• accomplished
• civilized
• cultivated
• educated
• enlightened
• erudite
• genteel
• intelligent
• knowledgeable
• literate
• polite
• refined
• sophisticated
• tolerant
• urbane