cultivate

[kuhl-tuh-veyt]

verb (used with object)

cultivated, cultivating 

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 friendship

   to cultivate a hobby

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

Other Word Forms

• overcultivate verb (used with object)
• precultivate verb (used with object)
• recultivate verb (used with object)

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

Other forms of Metarhizium are already commonly cultivated around the world on cheap materials like chicken droppings, rice husks and wheat scraps that are readily available after harvest.

Read more on Science Daily

In the process, they’ve cultivated not just a venue but a scene — no small feat in Los Angeles.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The trip cultivated that affection, inspiring a new retirement dream: “I want to harvest for free for two weeks,” Zullo said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Researchers at The Ohio State University recently discovered that edible fungi, such as shiitake mushrooms, can be cultivated and guided to function as organic memristors.

Read more on Science Daily

The deals followed a strategic partnership signed in March 2024 as the EU aims to cultivate ties with Egypt, a key player in the Middle East.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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

When To Use

What does cultivate mean?

When used literally, cultivate means to take steps to grow something or improve its growth, especially crops. When used figuratively, it means much the same thing, except that the thing being grown or improved is often an abstract thing, such as a business or a friendship.The literal sense of cultivate is most often used in the context of agriculture, but it can also refer to things being grown in a laboratory. Its figurative sense can apply to many different things, such as relationships, skills, and even cultures.Example: Farmers have cultivated a variety of crops in this region.