curate

[ noun kyoor-it; verb kyoor-eyt, kyoo-reyt ]

noun

1. Chiefly British. a member of the clergy employed to assist a rector or vicar.
2. any ecclesiastic entrusted with the cure of souls, as a parish priest.

verb (used with object)

, cu·rat·ed, cu·rat·ing.

1. to take charge of (a museum) or organize (an art exhibit):

   to curate a photography show.

2. to pull together, sift through, and select for presentation, as music or website content:

   “We curate our merchandise with a sharp eye for trending fashion,” the store manager explained.

curate

¹

/ ˈkjʊərɪt /

noun

1. a clergyman appointed to assist a parish priest
2. a clergyman who has the charge of a parish ( curate-in-charge )
3. an assistant barman

curate

²

/ kjʊəˈreɪt /

verb

1. tr to be in charge of (an art exhibition or museum)

Other Words From

• cu·rat·ic [ky, oo, -, rat, -ik], cu·rat·i·cal adjective
• cu·rate·ship noun
• cu·ra·tion noun
• sub·cu·rate noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of curate¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English curat, from Anglo-French or directly from Medieval Latin cūrātus, equivalent to Latin cūr(a) “care” + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of curate¹

C14: from Medieval Latin cūrātus, from cūra spiritual oversight, cure

Origin of curate²

C20: back formation from curator

Example Sentences

Here’s Bluesky with no algorithmic feeds at all, just customizable timelines that people can opt into or curate themselves.

From Slate

The omnipresence of the Internet and social media in recent electoral cycles has allowed people to curate high-volume echo chambers where the most extreme electoral claims are amplified, driving fears ever higher.

From Los Angeles Times

After moving into the curate’s house at his new ministry, Dr Bray said he and his wife noticed that the house was unusually cold, even in the summer.

From BBC

You have managed to curate an entire career for yourself for 25 years now, making choices where you are constantly zigging and zagging.

From Salon

In 2016, after months of hearing from Lerew about his weekend explorations of obscure collections and archives around Southern California, the foundation’s president, Ken Brecher, assigned Lerew to curate an exhibition on local collectors that became “21 Collections: Every Object Has a Story.”

From Los Angeles Times