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

Growing even modest quantities of mycoprotein requires significant inputs, and the spores must be cultivated in large metal tanks filled with sugar-rich feedstock and added nutrients such as ammonium sulfate.

Read more on Science Daily

He cultivated renown as a Wall Street wizard yet projected an air of uncaring.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The best part is the vast community of friends I have cultivated—mostly Americans, but also some from countries around the world.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

How better to cultivate the tastes of the masses?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Since 2016, Taipei’s governing Democratic Progressive Party has cultivated a distinct Taiwanese identity and strengthened ties with global capitals.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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.