cultivated

[kuhl-tuh-vey-tid]

See more synonyms for cultivated on Thesaurus.com

adjective

prepared and used for raising crops; tilled: cultivated land.
produced or improved by cultivation, as a plant.
educated; refined; cultured: cultivated tastes.

Origin of cultivated

First recorded in 1655–65; cultivate + -ed²

Related formsmis·cul·ti·vat·ed, adjectivenon·cul·ti·vat·ed, adjectivepseu·do·cul·ti·vat·ed, adjectivequa·si-cul·ti·vat·ed, adjectivesem·i·cul·ti·vat·ed, adjectivesu·per·cul·ti·vat·ed, adjectiveun·cul·ti·vat·ed, adjectivewell-cul·ti·vat·ed, adjective

Can be confusedcultivated cultured

cultivate

[kuhl-tuh-veyt]

verb (used with object), cul·ti·vat·ed, cul·ti·vat·ing.

to prepare and work on (land) in order to raise crops; till.
to use a cultivator on.
to promote or improve the growth of (a plant, crop, etc.) by labor and attention.
to produce by culture: to cultivate a strain of bacteria.
to develop or improve by education or training; train; refine: to cultivate a singing voice.
to promote the growth or development of (an art, science, etc.); foster.
to devote oneself to (an art, science, etc.).
to seek to promote or foster (friendship, love, etc.).
to seek the acquaintance or friendship of (a person).

Origin of cultivate

1610–20; < Medieval Latin cultīvātus (past participle of cultīvāre to till), equivalent to cultīv(us) (Latin cult(us), past participle of colere to care for, till (cf. cult) + -īvus -ive) + -ātus -ate¹

Related formso·ver·cul·ti·vate, verb (used with object), o·ver·cul·ti·vat·ed, o·ver·cul·ti·vat·ing.pre·cul·ti·vate, verb (used with object), pre·cul·ti·vat·ed, pre·cul·ti·vat·ing.re·cul·ti·vate, verb (used with object), re·cul·ti·vat·ed, re·cul·ti·vat·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for cultivated

refined, polished, sophisticated, enlightened, civilized, educated, accomplished, learned, urbane

Examples from the Web for cultivated

Contemporary Examples of cultivated

Valerie isn't going anywhere, and her work will extend through those she has cultivated and inspired.
The Valerie Jarrett I Know: How She Saved the Obama Campaign and Why She’s Indispensable
Joshua DuBois
November 18, 2014
And he cultivated a sort of “first lady” style that has dominated for decades: tasteful, impeccably made, and above all pretty.
How Oscar de la Renta Created First Lady Fashion
Raquel Laneri
October 21, 2014
After all, the biggest names in the art world have cultivated their craft through heartbreak and emotional strife.
Miley Cyrus Channels Her Bad Year Into Rave-Kid Art
Justin Jones
September 11, 2014
It's cultivated through the daily activities of people, over the course of years, warts and all.
Great Cities are Born Filthy
Will Doig
July 13, 2014
“He has cultivated a reputation of being a professional debauchee,” Wallace writes.
Speed Read: Terry Richardson on Sex, Lies, and Lindsay Lohan
Justin Jones
June 16, 2014

Historical Examples of cultivated

None of the poetry indeed by him cultivated was of any sort requiring study.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
The cultivated Jewess no longer cuts off her hair at her marriage.
A Treatise on Parents and Children
George Bernard Shaw
The current of cultivated opinion has long set in this direction.
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris
A considerable portion of the land hereabouts is cultivated.
The Roof of France
Matilda Betham-Edwards
The drama was cultivated by the Incas, and dramatic performances were enacted before them.
Apu Ollantay
Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for cultivated

cultivated

adjective

cultured, refined, or educated
((of land or soil))
1. subjected to tillage or cultivation
2. tilled and broken up
(of plants) specially bred or improved by cultivation

cultivate

verb (tr)

to till and prepare (land or soil) for the growth of crops
to plant, tend, harvest, or improve (plants) by labour and skill
to break up (land or soil) with a cultivator or hoe
to improve or foster (the mind, body, etc) as by study, education, or labour
to give special attention toto cultivate a friendship; to cultivate a hobby
to give or bring culture to (a person, society, etc); civilize

Word Origin for cultivate

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cultivated

cultivate

early 17c., from Medieval Latin cultivatus, past participle of cultivare, from Late Latin cultivus "tilled," from Latin cultus (see cult). Figurative sense of "improve by training or education" is from 1680s. Related: Cultivable; cultivated; cultivating.