cultivate

verb

KUL-ti-vayt/ˈkʌltɪveɪt/

Formscultivates, cultivating, cultivated

3 meanings of cultivate

1
verbtransitive
To grow plants, especially food crops, by planting them and taking care of them.
Like a gardener growing flowers from tiny seeds.
Farmers cultivate rice in the flooded fields each spring.
She cultivates tomatoes and beans in her backyard garden.
Similargrow, raise, farm, produce
Note
2
verbfigurativelytransitive
To help a skill, feeling, or relationship grow stronger by giving it care and time.
Like watering a plant a little every day so it grows big and strong.
Good teachers cultivate a love of reading in their students.
He cultivates friendships by staying in touch with old classmates.
Similarfoster, develop, nurture, build, establish
Oppositeneglect
Note
3
verbtransitive
To break up and stir the soil to get it ready for planting or to kill weeds between crops.
Like turning over the dirt with a fork before you plant seeds.
Before sowing, they cultivate the field to loosen the soil.
He cultivates between the rows to keep the weeds down.
Similartill, plow, work

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin words meaning "to till" or "to farm" the land.