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- DictionaryCul·ti·vate/ˈkəltəˌvāt/
verb
- 1. prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening: "the peasants who cultivated the land became its owners"
- 2. try to acquire or develop (a quality, sentiment, or skill): "he cultivated an air of indifference"
The meaning of CULTIVATE is to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops; also : to loosen or break up the soil about (growing plants). How to use cultivate in a sentence.
CULTIVATE definition: 1. to prepare land and grow crops on it, or to grow a particular crop: 2. to try to develop and…. Learn more.
When used literally, cultivate means to take steps to grow something or improve its growth, especially crops. When used figuratively, it means much the same thing, except that the thing being grown or improved is often an abstract thing, such as a business or a friendship.
to try to develop and improve something: She has cultivated an image as a shrewd investor. if you cultivate a relationship, you make a special effort to develop it, because you think it might be useful to you: He cultivated business contacts in ten major cities.
To cultivate is to nurture and help grow. Farmers cultivate crops, fundraising professionals cultivate donors, and celebrities cultivate their images. When you cultivate something, you work to make it better.
There are 14 meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb cultivate, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
1. a. To improve and prepare (land), as by plowing or fertilizing, for raising crops; till. b. To loosen or dig soil around (growing plants). 2. To grow or tend (a plant or crop). 3. To promote the growth of (a biological culture). 4. To encourage or foster: cultivate a respect for the law. See Synonyms at nurture. 5.
to develop or improve by education or training; train; refine: to cultivate a singing voice. to promote the growth or development of (an art, science, etc.); foster. to devote oneself to (an art, science, etc.). to seek to promote or foster (friendship, love, etc.).
Definitions of 'cultivate' 1. If you cultivate land or crops, you prepare land and grow crops on it. [...] 2. If you cultivate an attitude, image, or skill, you try hard to develop it and make it stronger or better. [...] 3. If you cultivate someone or cultivate a friendship with them, you try hard to develop a friendship with them. [...] More.
Cultivate Definition. To prepare and use (soil or land) for growing crops; till. To break up the surface soil around (plants) in order to destroy weeds, prevent crusting, and preserve moisture. To promote the growth of (a biological culture). To improve or develop (plants) by various horticultural techniques.
