cultivate

[ kuhl-tuh-veyt ]

verb (used with object)

, cul·ti·vat·ed, cul·ti·vat·ing.

1. to prepare and work on (land) in order to raise crops; till.
2. to use a cultivator on.
3. to promote or improve the growth of (a plant, crop, etc.) by labor and attention.
4. to produce by culture:

   to cultivate a strain of bacteria.

5. to develop or improve by education or training; train; refine:

   to cultivate a singing voice.

6. to promote the growth or development of (an art, science, etc.); foster.
7. to devote oneself to (an art, science, etc.).
8. to seek to promote or foster (friendship, love, etc.).
9. to seek the acquaintance or friendship of (a person).

cultivate

/ ˈkʌltɪˌveɪt /

verb

1. to till and prepare (land or soil) for the growth of crops
2. to plant, tend, harvest, or improve (plants) by labour and skill
3. to break up (land or soil) with a cultivator or hoe
4. to improve or foster (the mind, body, etc) as by study, education, or labour
5. to give special attention to

   to cultivate a hobby

   to cultivate a friendship

6. to give or bring culture to (a person, society, etc); civilize

Other Words From

• over·culti·vate verb (used with object) overcultivated overcultivating
• pre·culti·vate verb (used with object) precultivated precultivating
• re·culti·vate verb (used with object) recultivated recultivating

Word History and Origins

Origin of cultivate¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Medieval Latin cultīvātus, past participle of cultīvāre “to till,” equivalent to cultīv(us) “tilled,” derivative of Latin colere “to inhabit, till” + -īvus -ive + -āre, infinitive suffix; cult

Word History and Origins

Origin of cultivate¹

C17: from Medieval Latin cultivāre to till, from Old French cultiver, from Medieval Latin cultīvus cultivable, from Latin cultus cultivated, from colere to till, toil over

Example Sentences

"I think I still thought it was a meritocracy, I still thought talent would rise and that's not actually true when there’s barriers in the way that really stop you from progressing, you cant cultivate your talent if no one is going to let you."

From BBC

His team's theory is that the supernova likely had weak stellar winds -- streams of particles emitted from the atmosphere of the star -- which led it to cultivate and release so much energy.

From Science Daily

Drawing on his use of brutality in Kenya, he uses torture to cultivate informers, who were then often executed by the IRA.

From Los Angeles Times

When his grandparents passed, he took on the work of caring for the trees, and eventually, met John John Brown, who helped cultivate seeds and saplings to give out to other Muscogees.

From Salon

"We have developed the first complex culture system that can cultivate multiple indigenous skin bacteria in a balanced state. Detailed analysis of the biology of indigenous skin bacteria, which affect the condition of human skin, is now possible. Going forward, the system can be used in the research and development of cosmetics and drugs for numerous skin diseases" explains Associate Professor Yuuki Furuyama of Tokyo University of Science, the lead researcher in the study.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• breed
• fertilize
• harvest
• manage
• plant
• prepare
• propagate
• raise
• tend