curate

American  

[kyoor-it, kyoo-reyt, kyoor-eyt] / ˈkyʊər ɪt, kyʊˈreɪt, ˈkyʊər eɪt /

noun

1. Chiefly British. a member of the clergy employed to assist a rector or vicar.

2. any ecclesiastic entrusted with the cure of souls, as a parish priest.

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verb (used with object)

curated, curating

1. to take charge of (a museum) or organize (an art exhibit).

   to curate a photography show.

2. to pull together, sift through, and select for presentation, as music or website content.

   “We curate our merchandise with a sharp eye for trending fashion,” the store manager explained.

curate ¹ British  

/ ˈkjʊərɪt /

noun

1. a clergyman appointed to assist a parish priest

2. a clergyman who has the charge of a parish ( curate-in-charge )

3. an assistant barman

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curate ² British  

/ kjʊəˈreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to be in charge of (an art exhibition or museum)

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Other Word Forms

• curateship
  noun
• curatic
  adjective
• curatical
  adjective
• curation
  noun
• subcurate
  noun

Etymology

Origin of curate

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English curat, from Anglo-French or directly from Medieval Latin cūrātus, equivalent to Latin cūr(a) “care” + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

When you curate something, you organize and present it. If you work for a museum, you might curate an exhibit of abstract sculpture. The noun curate originally referred to anyone taking care of church property in some way. Nowadays, the noun generally refers to a person with religious training who conducts religious services. Curate comes from the word cure, and a curate is supposed to cure that most important part of you — your soul. When you curate a museum exhibit — or a selection of 1980s fashion for your retro blog — you care for or manage it just as a curate cares for a parish.

Example Sentences

Curate a social hangout that prioritizes genuine connection among queer Black people, queer people of color and those who support them, while joyfully taking up space in WeHo’s notoriously white nightlife scene.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2024

Curate Rev Manuela Schmucki, 35, is originally from Switzerland, where she trained as a pastor and completed a BA in theology before moving to Leicester Cathedral in 2021.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2023

Curate your crops, too, planting items with similar needs together.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 22, 2022

Now that you Coach others through the Core Skills and have proven you can Curate, Contribute, Campaign, and Collaborate, it is time to Consult to help individuals and organizations do the same.

From Forbes • Sep. 25, 2014

Take my word for it, she 'll not be the better wife to the Curate for the memory of all the fine speeches she once heard from the Captain.

From Barrington Volume I (of II) by Lever, Charles James