cultivate

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verb cul·ti·vate \ ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt \

Definition of cultivate

cultivated; cultivating

transitive verb

1 :to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops

Some fields are cultivated while others lie fallow.

; also :to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants)

2 a :to foster the growth of

cultivate vegetables

cultivate coffee

b :culture 2a

cultivate oysters for pearls

c :to improve by labor, care, or study :refine

cultivate the mind

… cultivated a reputation as a hard-core wheeler-dealer …
—Kit Boss

3 :further, encourage

cultivate the arts

4 :to seek the society of :make friends with

looking for influential people to cultivate as friends

—

cultivatable

play \ˈkəl-tə-ˌvā-tə-bəl\ adjective

See cultivate defined for English-language learners

See cultivate defined for kids

Examples of cultivate in a Sentence

Prehistoric peoples settled the area and began to cultivate the land.
Some of the fields are cultivated while others lie fallow.
a plant that is cultivated for its fruit
They survived by cultivating vegetables and grain.
He has carefully cultivated his image.
She cultivated a taste for fine wines.

Recent Examples of cultivate from the Web

The answers to the Haqqanis’ survival have much to do with qualities that Jalaluddin Haqqani, a former Taliban minister and friend of Osama bin Laden, cultivated and passed on to his surviving son and successor, Sirajuddin.

— Washington Post, "Ruthless Taliban branch is center stage in U.S.-Pakistan tensions," 19 July 2017
For the past six years, one of your favorite drugstore beauty brands has been responsible for discovering and cultivating the best vlogger talent.

— emily gaynor, Teen Vogue, "How to Vote in NYX's Face Awards," 17 July 2017
HB 523 was signed in June 2016, but details about how medical marijuana would be licensed, cultivated and dispensed are still being worked out.

— jennie key, Cincinnati.com, "Sharonville just says no to medical marijuana," 14 July 2017
The cadet program, discussed for a number of years, is designed to cultivate students interested in law enforcement in Harford County.

— erika butler, The Aegis, "Tyler Dailey becomes first Harford Sheriff's Office cadet," 14 July 2017
Chen Xitong, who ruled Beijing in the years spanning the Tiananmen unrest, was purged in 1995—ostensibly for corruption but more likely for cultivating an independent power-base in the capital.

— The Economist, "A Bolshevik in BeijingXi Jinping has chosen an unusual man to lead the capital city," 13 July 2017
If anything, this jam band has grown and cultivated a loyal fan base that follows them everywhere.

— birmingham magazine, AL.com, "Everything you need to know about Sloss Fest," 6 July 2017
Theseus, too, is transformed by the magic of the night, into someone who cultivates empathy and champions the power of the imagination when insisting that the retinue surrounding him give the mechanicals and their play a chance.

— mike fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "American Players Theatre's trippy 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' a gift to fans," 5 July 2017
Meanwhile, representatives who cultivate bipartisan relationships and co-sponsor bills are more successful at making laws than are partisans.

— craig volden, Washington Post, "Senators used to excel at lawmaking. Now, not so much. Here’s what needs to change.," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cultivate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cultivate

Medieval Latin cultivatus, past participle of cultivare, from cultivus cultivable, from Latin cultus, past participle of colere — see cult

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First Known Use: 1588

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cultivate Synonyms

Synonyms

acquire, develop, form

Antonyms

lose

Related Words

absorb, adopt, embrace, take in, take on; gain, get, obtain; achieve, attain, reach; foster, nourish, nurture, promote

Near Antonyms

abandon, desert, forsake; cast, discard, ditch, dump, fling (off or away), jettison, junk, reject, scrap, shed, shuck (off), slough (also sluff), throw away, throw out, unload

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

CULTIVATE Defined for English Language Learners

cultivate

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verb

Definition of cultivate for English Language Learners

: to prepare and use (soil) for growing plants
: to grow and care for (plants)
: to grow or raise (something) under conditions that you can control

CULTIVATE Defined for Kids

cultivate

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verb cul·ti·vate \ ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt \

Definition of cultivate for Students

cultivated; cultivating

1 :to prepare land for the raising of crops

cultivate a field

2 :to raise or assist the growth of crops by tilling or by labor and care

cultivate corn

3 :to improve or develop by careful attention, training, or study :devote time and thought to

He's trying to cultivate a better attitude.

4 :to seek the company and friendship of

As soon as Johnny began to cultivate Dove, he was surprised at the response.
—Esther Forbes, Johnny Tremain

Medical Dictionary

cultivate

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transitive verb cul·ti·vate \ ˈkəl-tə-ˌvāt \

medical Definition of cultivate

cultivated; cultivating

:culture 1

viruses cultivated in brain tissue

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cultivate

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Examples of cultivate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of cultivate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cultivate

cultivate Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

CULTIVATE Defined for English Language Learners

cultivate

Definition of cultivate for English Language Learners

CULTIVATE Defined for Kids

cultivate

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Medical Dictionary

cultivate

medical Definition of cultivate

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