cultivate
KUL-tih-vayt
/ˈkʌltɪveɪt/
To prepare and use land for crops or gardening; to nurture and help something grow.
In farming, it often refers to the physical act of tilling or breaking up soil. Metaphorically, it means to develop a skill or relationship.
The story behind the word. Derived from 'cultus', the past participle of 'colere', meaning to till, inhabit, or worship. This is why we have 'culture' and 'cultivate'—both involve the careful tending of something to make it flourish.
Word relationships
- nurture: Nurture is more emotional and general, while cultivate often implies a methodical or physical process.
- neglect: Neglect is the failure to care for something, while cultivating is the active process of care.
Commonly confused with
- till: Tilling is specifically breaking up the soil; cultivating is the broader process of tending the crop.
Word family
- cultivation (noun): The act of cultivating.
- cultivator (noun): A person or tool that cultivates.
Collocations
- cultivate the land
- cultivate a relationship
- cultivate a habit
Example sentences
- "We must cultivate our garden." A famous philosophical conclusion. (Voltaire, Candide (1759).)
Memory hook
Think of 'culture'. To have culture, you must 'cultivate' your mind like a farmer 'cultivates' a field. Cultivate = Care for growth.
When not to use
Do not use it to mean 'to harvest'; it refers to the work done before and during growth, not the end result.
Fun facts
- The word 'culture' originally meant 'the cultivation of the soil' before it meant the arts and customs of a people.
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
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Sustainable Agriculture & Farming
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Agrarian Social Structure
- Hobbies, Crafts & Leisure → Gardening & Houseplants
- Home & Domestic Life → Lawn Care & Landscaping
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