cultivator
KUL-tih-vay-ter
/ˈkʌltɪveɪtər/
A mechanical implement used to loosen the soil and remove weeds in a controlled manner around growing plants, without turning the soil completely over.
Focuses on weed control and aeration during the growing season, carefully navigating between rows of existing crops.
The story behind the word. Derived from the Latin verb 'colere', which meant both to till the earth and to inhabit/care for a place. This root also gave us 'culture' and 'colony', reflecting how deeply rooted human civilization is in the act of tilling the soil.
Word relationships
- tiller: A tiller usually refers to a smaller, often motorized hand-held machine used in gardens, whereas a cultivator is typically a larger tractor-drawn implement.
Commonly confused with
- plow: A plow is used before planting to turn the soil over; a cultivator is used after planting to stir the soil and kill weeds.
Word family
- cultivate (verb): To prepare and use land for crops; to foster growth.
- cultivation (noun): The act of cultivating land or crops.
Collocations
- row-crop cultivator
- rotary cultivator
- tow-behind cultivator
Example sentences
- "To control the weeds between the rows of corn without damaging the crop's roots, the farmer ran a cultivator through the field." Describing organic weed control in a cornfield.
Memory hook
A cultivator helps 'cultivate' (nurture) young plants by removing their 'enemies' (weeds). Cultivator = Weed eliminator and soil aerator.
When not to use
Do not use to describe the initial deep turning of fallow land (which is the job of a plow).
Fun facts
- The Latin root 'colere' is the ancestor of both 'cultivator' and 'culture'—showing that human culture literally grew out of tilling the soil.
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