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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

/ ˈʌɪˌɪ /

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

“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 Word Forms

  • overcultivate verb (used with object)
  • precultivate verb (used with object)
  • recultivate verb (used with object)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cultivate1

First recorded in 1610–20; from Medieval Latin ܱīٳܲ, past participle of ܱī “to till,” equivalent to ܱī(ܲ) “tilled,” derivative of Latin colere “to inhabit, till” + -īܲ -ive + -, infinitive suffix; cult
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cultivate1

C17: from Medieval Latin ܱپ to till, from Old French cultiver, from Medieval Latin ܱīܲ cultivable, from Latin cultus cultivated, from colere to till, toil over
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Some are sceptical that apples cultivated in hot areas will ever be a commercial proposition.

From

Securing BBC Eye's exchange with Brar took a year of chasing - cultivating sources, waiting for replies, gradually getting closer to the kingpin himself.

From

Sheinbaum, who has worked hard to cultivate a constructive relationship with the Trump White House and met Noem in Mexico City in March, didn’t hesitate.

From

The attacks included allegations that Fulbright, which opened in 2016 with partial funding from the U.S. government, was cultivating Western liberal and democratic values that could undermine the Vietnamese government.

From

There comes a time in everyone’s life, and almost certainly the lives of women, when we abandon the race to stay on trend and cultivate a more lasting style.

From

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When To Use

doescultivate 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.

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