foster

¹

[faw-ster, fos-ter]

verb (used with object)

1. to promote the growth or development of; further; encourage.

   to foster new ideas.

   Synonyms: instigate, foment, advance, forward, favor
   Antonyms: discourage

2. to care for a foster child or a pet as a temporary guardian.

   The couple fostered two boys until they could be reunited with their birth parents.

   Have you ever fostered a kitten that you just couldn’t part from afterwards?

   Synonyms: maintain, support, sustain, nourish, nurse

3. to care for or cherish.

4. British.,  to place (a child) in a foster home.

5. Obsolete.,  to feed or nourish.

Foster

²

[faw-ster, fos-ter]

noun

1. Stephen (Collins), 1826–64, U.S. songwriter.

2. William Z(ebulon) 1881–1961, U.S. labor organizer: leader in the Communist Party.

3. a male given name.

foster

¹

/ ˈfɒstə /

verb

1. to promote the growth or development of

2. to bring up (a child, etc); rear

3. to cherish (a plan, hope, etc) in one's mind

4. 1. to place (a child) in the care of foster parents

   2. to bring up under fosterage

adjective

1. (in combination) indicating relationship through fostering and not through birth

   foster mother

   foster child

2. (in combination) of or involved in the rearing of a child by persons other than his natural or adopted parents

   foster home

Foster

²

/ ˈfɒstə /

noun

1. Jodie . born 1962, US film actress and director: her films include Taxi Driver (1976), The Accused (1988), The Silence of the Lambs (1990), Little Man Tate (1991; also directed), Nell (1995), and Panic Room (2002)

2. Norman , Baron. born 1935, British architect. His works include the Willis Faber building (1978) in Ipswich, Stansted Airport, Essex (1991), Chek Lap Kok Airport, Hong Kong (1998), the renovation of the Reichstag, Berlin (1999), and City Hall, London (2002)

3. Stephen Collins . 1826–64, US composer of songs such as The Old Folks at Home and Oh Susanna

Other Word Forms

• fostering noun
• fosterer noun
• fosteringly adverb
• unfostering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foster¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English fōstor “nourishment,” fōstrian “to nourish”; cognate with Old Norse fōstr; akin to food

Word History and Origins

Origin of foster¹

Old English fōstrian to feed, from fōstor _food

Synonym Study

See cherish.

Example Sentences

Clinton believed that an advisory board of experts could foster a meaningful national dialogue and produce necessary healing.

From Salon

“I think about ridiculous things like fostering cats, or remodeling cottages in Italy. Maybe I’ll write a book, or get back into acting.”

From Los Angeles Times

"By targeting us – the creators who give voice to diverse narratives and foster dialogue – these signatories are undermining their own cause and attempting to silence us," he said.

From BBC

Teachers focus instead on surrounding children with books to foster a love of reading, directing children to figure out unknown words based on context, pictures and other clues.

From Los Angeles Times

Another is a 16-year-old Guatemalan girl living in foster care in Riverside.

From Los Angeles Times