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cultivate
[ kuhl-tuh-veyt ]
verb (used with object)
- 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).
cultivate
/ ˈkʌltɪˌveɪt /
verb
- 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 to
to cultivate a hobby
to cultivate a friendship
- to give or bring culture to (a person, society, etc); civilize
Other Words From
- over·culti·vate verb (used with object) overcultivated overcultivating
- pre·culti·vate verb (used with object) precultivated precultivating
- re·culti·vate verb (used with object) recultivated recultivating
Word History and Origins
Origin of cultivate1
Word History and Origins
Origin of cultivate1
Example Sentences
Studies also show that music can cultivate sharing, empathy and trust in young children while offering a healthy outlet for them to deal with and express their emotions.
Soon after, colonists started taking over Indigenous lands and enslaving people to cultivate their coffee plantations.
Nonprofit organizations have a unique opportunity to cultivate that pipeline.
Even after leaving office, he painstakingly cultivated a close bond with the Chinese people - but that was affected as ties between Washington and Beijing cooled.
Famously promising that he would always tell the truth if he won, Carter defeated Ford in a close election in which the Democrat eschewed ideology and instead cultivated an anodyne image as a folksy populist.
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More About Cultivate
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.
Where does cultivate come from?
The first records of the word cultivate come from around 1600. It grew out of the Medieval Latin word cultīvātus, 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?
What are some words that often get used in discussing cultivate?
How is cultivate 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.
Secondary students visit to QIU Sustainable Agri-Research. Showing them how to cultivate healthy and nutritious greens using different farming techniques, and how knowledge and technologies can be applied to improve crop productivity. @qiup_edu @biotechnology @fromfarmtotable pic.twitter.com/3bUuOA9f39
— Teh Chui Yao (@ChuiYao) March 6, 2020
Best parts of the NFL Combine: advocating for our players (#1), making new connections, encouraging (and hopefully influencing) the next generation of sports professionals, & continuing to cultivate friendships across the league.
— Kelli Masters Mgmt (@KMMsports) February 29, 2020
Donovan tells aspiring journalists: when you meet people, treat them well. Cultivate sources.
— Laura Payton (@laura_payton) March 12, 2015
Try using cultivate!
Which of the following words is an antonym (opposite) of cultivate?
A. tend
B. generate
C. neglect
D. manage
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