cultivate
KUL-tih-vayt
/ˈkʌl.tɪ.veɪt/
to prepare and use land for crops or gardening.
Can refer to the physical act of tilling soil or the broader act of growing and tending to plants.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'cultivatus', the past participle of 'colere'. This root is incredibly productive, giving us 'culture' (the tilling of the mind) and 'cult' (the worship of a deity). It implies a deep, ongoing relationship with the land.
Word relationships
- till: Specifically refers to the mechanical turning of the soil.
- nurture: Focuses on the care and growth aspect, often used metaphorically.
- neglect: To fail to care for the land or plants.
- abandon: To leave the land entirely, allowing it to go wild.
Commonly confused with
- farm: Farming is the business/lifestyle; cultivating is the specific action of growing the plants.
Word family
- cultivation (noun): the act of cultivating
- cultivator (noun): a person or tool that cultivates
Collocations
- cultivate the soil
- cultivate crops
- cultivate a relationship
Example sentences
- "We must cultivate our garden." Literary classic (Voltaire, Candide)
- "The tribe has cultivated these specific varieties of maize for over a thousand years." Modern farming
Memory hook
You 'cultivate' a 'culture' of growth in your garden. Care for the crops.
When not to use
Don't use it for wild plants that grow without human help.
Fun facts
- The word 'culture' originally meant 'the cultivation of the soil' before it was applied to the arts and human behavior in the 16th century.
Related words
Also appears in
- Leadership → Mentorship & Guidance
- Nature → Flora, Botany & Plants
- Nature → Forestry & Agriculture
- Economic Theory & Analysis → Agrarian Economics
- Education & Pedagogy → Extracurricular & Enrichment
- Education & Pedagogy → Teacher Roles & Mentorship
- Food Science & Culinary Craft → Organic Farming Practices
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Agrarian Social Structure
- Hobbies, Crafts & Leisure → Gardening & Houseplants
- Home & Domestic Life → Lawn Care & Landscaping
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