cultivate

[ kuhl-tuh-veyt ]

verb (used with object)

, cul·ti·vat·ed, cul·ti·vat·ing.

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

/ ˈkʌltɪˌveɪt /

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

Other Words From

• over·culti·vate verb (used with object) overcultivated overcultivating
• pre·culti·vate verb (used with object) precultivated precultivating
• re·culti·vate verb (used with object) recultivated recultivating

Word History and Origins

Origin of cultivate¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Medieval Latin cultīvātus, past participle of cultīvāre “to till,” equivalent to cultīv(us) “tilled,” derivative of Latin colere “to inhabit, till” + -īvus -ive + -āre, infinitive suffix; cult

Word History and Origins

Origin of cultivate¹

C17: from Medieval Latin cultivāre to till, from Old French cultiver, from Medieval Latin cultīvus cultivable, from Latin cultus cultivated, from colere to till, toil over

Example Sentences

The strong ties he would cultivate with America were first instilled by his American mother.

From The Daily Beast

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy used it to cultivate right-wing anti-immigrant voters.

From The Daily Beast

And Facebook, under COO and Lean In author Sheryl Sandberg, has attempted to cultivate a reputation for being friendly to parents.

From The Daily Beast

With Bruce Wayne out of the picture, Dick Grayson is free to cultivate that hitherto underdeveloped aspect of his abilities.

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps the general did not cultivate his fame as “The Marble Man,” but he earned it.

From The Daily Beast

He wishes to cultivate it still, and offers to renew the lease for any number of years, and pay the rent punctually.

From Project Gutenberg

The easiest way to cultivate the geographic sense is by practising the art of making sketch maps.

From Project Gutenberg

The Chinese cultivate the plant like the Japanese, and give it as much care and attention as they do the tea plant.

From Project Gutenberg

The Chinese planter often raises large fields of the plants, and employs many hands to tend and cultivate them.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing is more like the most ardent friendship than those acquaintances which we cultivate for the sake of our love.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• breed
• fertilize
• harvest
• manage
• plant
• prepare
• propagate
• raise
• tend