culture

[ kuhl-cher ]

/ ˈkʌl tʃər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR culture ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.

that which is excellent in the arts, manners, etc.

a particular form or stage of civilization, as that of a certain nation or period: Greek culture.

development or improvement of the mind by education or training.

the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture.

Anthropology. the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.

Biology.

the cultivation of microorganisms, as bacteria, or of tissues, for scientific study, medicinal use, etc.
the product or growth resulting from such cultivation.

the act or practice of cultivating the soil; tillage.

the raising of plants or animals, especially with a view to their improvement.

the product or growth resulting from such cultivation.

verb (used with object), cul·tured, cul·tur·ing.

to subject to culture; cultivate.

Biology.

to grow (microorganisms, tissues, etc.) in or on a controlled or defined medium.
to introduce (living material) into a culture medium.

Nearby words

cultural universal, culturalization, culturalize, culturally, culturati, culture, culture area, culture center, culture clash, culture complex, culture diffusion

Origin of culture

1400–50; late Middle English: tilling, place tilled (< Anglo-French) < Latin cultūra. See cult, -ure

SYNONYMS FOR culture

4 See education.

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Related forms

an·ti·cul·ture, nounin·ter·cul·ture, adjectivein·ter·cul·ture, nounmul·ti·cul·ture, noun

non·cul·ture, nounpre·cul·ture, nounsu·per·cul·ture, noun

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

Examples from the Web for cultures

The city served as a crossroads for African, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern cultures.
Egypt Ain’t The Only Pyramid Show In Town|Nina Strochlic|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It's often said that America is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities.
What It's Like To Be Ambiguously Ethnic|The Daily Beast Video|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Death is interpreted differently by various people, cultures, and even science.
What It’s Like to Wake Up Dead|Dr. Anand Veeravagu, MD, Tej Azad|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And by pronouncing other cultures and political systems “evil,” there was the assurance that America was good.
How Obama's Shallow Worldview Failed Us|Stuart Stevens|August 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The President frequently touts his international culture background as proof of his understanding of other cultures.
How Obama's Shallow Worldview Failed Us|Stuart Stevens|August 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The boundaries of cultures and rainfall never follow survey lines.
Guide to Life and Literature of the Southwest|J. Frank Dobie
Cultures were made of these samples, and bacilli of different types were developed in the culture medium in a short time.
Paint Technology and Tests|Henry A. Gardner
Denmark was already a meeting-place for a variety of cultures, thoughts, and influences.
The New Stone Age in Northern Europe|John M. Tyler
Kingdoms and peoples, cultures and institutions, pass away like dreams.
New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 5, August, 1915|Various
Thus, they sensed a commonality not only of interests but also of cultures.
Area Handbook for Bulgaria|Eugene K. Keefe, Violeta D. Baluyut, William Giloane, Anne K. Long, James M. Moore, and Neda A. Walpole

British Dictionary definitions for cultures

culture

/ (ˈkʌltʃə) /

noun

the total of the inherited ideas, beliefs, values, and knowledge, which constitute the shared bases of social action

the total range of activities and ideas of a group of people with shared traditions, which are transmitted and reinforced by members of the groupthe Mayan culture

a particular civilization at a particular period

the artistic and social pursuits, expression, and tastes valued by a society or class, as in the arts, manners, dress, etc

the enlightenment or refinement resulting from these pursuits

the attitudes, feelings, values, and behaviour that characterize and inform society as a whole or any social group within ityob culture

the cultivation of plants, esp by scientific methods designed to improve stock or to produce new ones

stockbreeding the rearing and breeding of animals, esp with a view to improving the strain

the act or practice of tilling or cultivating the soil

biology

the experimental growth of microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, in a nutrient substance (culture medium), usually under controlled conditionsSee also culture medium
a group of microorganisms grown in this way

verb (tr)

to cultivate (plants or animals)

to grow (microorganisms) in a culture medium

Derived Formsculturist, nouncultureless, adjective

Word Origin for culture

C15: from Old French, from Latin cultūra a cultivating, from colere to till; see cult

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 cultures

culture

mid-15c., "the tilling of land," from Middle French culture and directly from Latin cultura "a cultivating, agriculture," figuratively "care, culture, an honoring," from past participle stem of colere "tend, guard, cultivate, till" (see cult). The figurative sense of "cultivation through education" is first attested c.1500. Meaning "the intellectual side of civilization" is from 1805; that of "collective customs and achievements of a people" is from 1867.

For without culture or holiness, which are always the gift of a very few, a man may renounce wealth or any other external thing, but he cannot renounce hatred, envy, jealousy, revenge. Culture is the sanctity of the intellect. [William Butler Yeats]

Slang culture vulture is from 1947. Culture shock first recorded 1940.

Medicine definitions for cultures

culture

[ kŭl′chər ]

n.

The growing of microorganisms, tissue cells, or other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient medium.

Such a growth or colony, as of bacteria.

v.

To grow microorganisms or other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient medium.

To use a substance as a medium for culture.

Science definitions for cultures

culture

[ kŭl′chər ]

Noun

A growth of microorganisms, viruses, or tissue cells in a specially prepared nutrient medium under supervised conditions.

The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought. Culture is learned and shared within social groups and is transmitted by nongenetic means.

Verb

To grow microorganisms, viruses, or tissue cells in a nutrient medium.

Culture definitions for cultures

culture

The sum of attitudes, customs, and beliefs that distinguishes one group of people from another. Culture is transmitted, through language, material objects, ritual, institutions, and art, from one generation to the next.

Note

Anthropologists consider that the requirements for culture (language use, tool making, and conscious regulation of sex) are essential features that distinguish humans from other animals.

Note

Culture also refers to refined music, art, and literature; one who is well versed in these subjects is considered “cultured.”

culture

noun

verb (used with object), cul·tured, cul·tur·ing.

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culture

noun

verb (tr)

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culture

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culture

n.

v.

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culture

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culture

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Note

culture

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culture

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for culture

Word Origin and History for cultures

culture

Medicine definitions for cultures

culture

n.

v.

Science definitions for cultures

culture

Noun

Verb

Culture definitions for cultures

culture

Note

Note

noun

British Dictionary definitions for cultures