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cultivate

KUL-tih-vayt /ˈkʌl.tɪ.veɪt/

verbB2GRESATTOEFLIELTS

generalacademicmetaphorical

To prepare and use land for crops; or to foster and develop a skill, relationship, or quality.

Implies deliberate, sustained, and patient effort over time, whether applied to soil or human habits.

The story behind the word. From Medieval Latin 'cultivatus', past participle of 'cultivare', stemming from classical Latin 'colere' meaning 'to till, care for, inhabit, or honor'. This same root gave us 'culture', 'cult', and 'agriculture'.

Word relationships

foster: 'Foster' emphasizes nurturing growth, while 'cultivate' carries extra roots in deliberate labor and refining.
farm: 'Farm' refers specifically to agriculture, whereas 'cultivate' covers both farming and metaphorical refinement.

neglect: To leave unhandled or unattended.
abandon: To completely give up care or maintenance.

Commonly confused with

harvest: 'Cultivate' is the process of growing and nurturing; 'harvest' is the final gathering of crops.

Word family

cultivation (noun): The act of growing crops or fostering growth.
cultivator (noun): A person or machine that prepares soil and grows crops.

Collocations

cultivate crops
cultivate relationships
cultivate an interest
cultivate soil

Example sentences

"Farmers in the river valley have cultivated rice for thousands of years." Agriculture practice
"She worked hard to cultivate a deep understanding of international law." Metaphorical skill growth

Memory hook

CULTIVATE sounds like 'CULTURE'—you cultivate soil to build a culture of growth. Nurture with patient labor.

When not to use

Do not use 'cultivate' for quick, immediate creation; building a lego model is not cultivating it.

Fun facts

The origin of human civilization coincides with the moment nomadic groups learned to cultivate wheat around 10,000 BCE!