˜yÐÄvlog

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View synonyms for

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

/ ˈ°ìÊŒ±ô³Ùɪˌ±¹±ðɪ³Ù /

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 hobby

    to cultivate a friendship

  6. to give or bring culture to (a person, society, etc); civilize
“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
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Other ˜yÐÄvlog Forms

  • ´Çv±ð°ù·³¦³Ü±ôt¾±Â·±¹²¹³Ù±ð verb (used with object) overcultivated overcultivating
  • ±è°ù±ð·³¦³Ü±ôt¾±Â·±¹²¹³Ù±ð verb (used with object) precultivated precultivating
  • °ù±ð·³¦³Ü±ôt¾±Â·±¹²¹³Ù±ð verb (used with object) recultivated recultivating
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of cultivate1

First recorded in 1610–20; from Medieval Latin ³¦³Ü±ô³ÙÄ«±¹Äå³Ù³Ü²õ, past participle of ³¦³Ü±ô³ÙÄ«±¹Äå°ù±ð “to till,†equivalent to ³¦³Ü±ô³ÙÄ«±¹(³Ü²õ) “tilled,†derivative of Latin colere “to inhabit, till†+ -Ä«±¹³Ü²õ -ive + -Äå°ù±ð, infinitive suffix; cult
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of cultivate1

C17: from Medieval Latin ³¦³Ü±ô³Ù¾±±¹Äå°ù±ð to till, from Old French cultiver, from Medieval Latin ³¦³Ü±ô³ÙÄ«±¹³Ü²õ cultivable, from Latin cultus cultivated, from colere to till, toil over
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

According to federal prosecutors, the Chinese government had scouted for a rising star in Arcadia, hoping to cultivate a politician who could help them push pro-China policies, particularly regarding Taiwan.

From

Hungary's decision aligns with its broader foreign policy stance under Orban, who has cultivated close ties with Israel and adopted a critical view of international institutions perceived as infringing on national sovereignty.

From

Park, who isn't on social media, explained that imperative means cultivating the positive.

From

In the process, they're shifting focus from just staving off the infringement of their rights and freedoms from outside actors to cultivating joy and belonging within their communities.

From

Essentially, the strawberry’s price reflects the labor, time, care and precision required to cultivate the specialty berry.

From

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More About Cultivate

What doesÌýcultivate 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.

Where doesÌýcultivate come from?

The first records of the word cultivate come from around 1600. It grew out of the Medieval Latin word ³¦³Ü±ô³ÙÄ«±¹Äå³Ù³Ü²õ, which ultimately derives from the Latin verb colere, meaning “to till,†“to toil over,†“to care for,†or “to worship.†Colere is also the basis of the words cult, culture, and agriculture, among many others.

To cultivate isn’t just to grow something. It’s to prepare and work for its growth, and to tend to it as it grows. Cultivating the land for crops often first involves tilling (or plowing) it. (A machine that does this is called a cultivator). It also involves planting seeds and then watering them and making sure they are growing properly. When crops and plants are cultivated, they are taken care of until they are ready to be harvested. When something is cultivated in a lab, it means an organism is grown (or cultured) in a controlled environment.

You can see why this process is used as a metaphor for growing something like a friendship. To cultivate a friendship, you have to first gain someone’s trust, and then continue to build the relationship until it blossoms, so to speak. The word cultivate is often applied to the idea of building such relationships. Journalists cultivate their sources by building trust with them. Businesspeople cultivate their contacts the same way.

Other things can be cultivated, such as skills, interests, or even cultures. In every case, care must be taken so that such things can take root and continue to thrive.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to cultivate?

  • cultivation (noun)
  • cultivator (noun)
  • overcultivate (verb)
  • precultivate (verb)
  • recultivate (verb)

What are some synonyms for cultivate?

What are some words that share a root or word element with cultivate?Ìý

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What are some words that often get used in discussing cultivate?

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How isÌýcultivate used in real life?

Cultivate is most commonly used in a literal sense in the context of agriculture to refer to growing crops. But it is also used in many different figurative ways.

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Try usingÌýcultivate!

Which of the following words is an antonym (opposite) of cultivate?

A. tend
B. generate
C. neglect
D. manage

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