cultivation

American  

[kuhl-tuh-vey-shuhn] / ˌkʌl təˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

cultivations plural

1. the act or art of cultivating.

2. the state of being cultivated.

3. culture; refinement.

   Synonyms:

   taste, breeding, gentility

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cultivation British  

/ ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. agriculture

   1. the planting, tending, improving, or harvesting of crops or plants

   2. the preparation of ground to promote their growth

2. development, esp through education, training, etc

3. culture or sophistication, esp social refinement

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Usage

What does cultivation mean? Cultivation is the act of growing something or improving its growth, especially crops. Cultivation can also be used in a more figurative way to refer to the same kind of process, except that the thing being grown or improved is often an abstract thing, such as a business or a friendship. Cultivation is a noun form of the verb cultivate. The literal sense of cultivation 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 the development of many different things, such as relationships, skills, and even cultures. Example: The rich soil in this region is ideal for the cultivation of a variety of crops.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncultivation
  noun
• overcultivation
  noun
• precultivation
  noun
• recultivation
  noun
• self-cultivation
  noun
• uncultivation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cultivations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cultivation

First recorded in 1690–1700; cultivate + -ion

Explanation

Cultivation is the act of caring for or raising plants. Your desire to grow your own fruits and vegetables in the backyard means you'll be engaged in some heavy cultivation. The word cultivation is most often used to talk about the ways that farmers take care of crops. However, in a more general sense, the verb cultivate means to improve or train someone or something. You could participate in the cultivation of your little brother by paying for him to take tango lessons and teaching him how to play chess. Or perhaps you might start by simply teaching him how to sip and not slurp his soup.

Example Sentences

Cultivation is the act of caring for or raising plants, i.e. gardening.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 11, 2022

Cultivation of this plant has been a part of Indian cuisine and culture since the time of the Vedas, appearing in early scriptures from 1500 B.C. and thereafter.

From Salon • May 13, 2022

Cultivation energy requirements vary by more than two-fold depending on location.

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2021

Cultivation of the self was getting upstaged by the proliferation of the selfie.

From New York Times • Dec. 20, 2017

Cultivation stopped halfway, the fruit rotted on the trees and the hundred-twenty-car trains remained on the sidings.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Related Words

• farming
• gardening
• horticulture
• planting