Cultivate
Definition
Cultivate is a verb that means to prepare and use land for growing crops or gardening. It also refers to fostering the growth or development of something, such as relationships, skills, or talents.
Parts of Speech
- Verb
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈkʌltɪˌveɪt/
- Respelling: KUHL-ti-vayt
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈkʌltɪˌveɪt/
- Respelling: KUHL-ti-vayt
The pronunciation of "cultivate" is the same in both American and British English.
Etymology
The word "cultivate" comes from the Latin "cultivare," meaning "to till," which is derived from "cultus," meaning "care" or "cultivation." It entered the English language in the early 17th century and has since been used in both agricultural and metaphorical contexts.
Derivatives
- Cultivation (noun)
- Cultivator (noun)
- Cultivated (adjective)
- Self-cultivation (noun)
- Recultivate (verb)
Synonyms
- Foster
- Nurture
- Till
Antonyms
- Neglect
- Abandon
- Ignore
Usage
The word "cultivate" is widely used in both literal and metaphorical contexts. In agriculture, it refers to the process of preparing land for crops or gardening. In a broader sense, it is used to describe the effort of fostering the growth or development of intangible things like relationships, skills, habits, or attitudes. For example, one might cultivate a friendship or cultivate an interest in a new hobby.
Related Terms
- Agriculture: The practice of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock.
- Gardening: The practice of growing and cultivating plants as part of horticulture.
- Development: The process of growing or becoming more mature, advanced, or elaborate.
Detailed Definitions
Verb
- To prepare and use land for crops or gardening: Refers to the agricultural process of preparing soil for growing plants.
- Example: "The farmers worked to cultivate the land for the upcoming planting season."
- To foster the growth or development of something: Refers to nurturing or encouraging the growth of skills, relationships, or other non-physical entities.
- Example: "She worked hard to cultivate her leadership abilities."
cultivate
The farmers worked hard to cultivate the land for the next planting season.
She worked hard to cultivate her leadership skills by reading books and attending meetings.
She decided to cultivate her appreciation for fine wines by tasting different varieties.
🇨🇳 Mandarin (Chinese)
- 耕作 (gēngzuò) - [preparing and using land for crops]
- IPA: /kɤŋ˥˩ t͡swɔ˨˩˦/
- Respelling: GENG-zwaw
- 培养 (péiyǎng) - [fostering the growth or development]
- IPA: /pʰei̯˧˥ jaŋ˨˩˦/
- Respelling: PAY-yahng
🇮🇳 Hindi
- जोतना (jotnā) - [preparing and using land for crops]
- IPA: /dʒoːt.naː/
- Respelling: JOH-tnaa
- पालना (pālnā) - [fostering the growth or development]
- IPA: /paːl.naː/
- Respelling: PAAL-naa
🇪🇸 Spanish
- Cultivar - [preparing and using land for crops or fostering the growth]
- IPA: /kulˈti.β̞aɾ/
- Respelling: kool-TEE-var
🇫🇷 French
- Cultiver - [preparing and using land for crops or fostering the growth]
- IPA: /kyl.ti.ve/
- Respelling: kül-tee-VAY
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- زرع (zarʿa) - [preparing and using land for crops]
- IPA: /zarʕ/
- Respelling: zar'a
- تنمية (tanmiyah) - [fostering the growth or development]
- IPA: /tanˈmij.ja/
- Respelling: tan-MEE-ya
🇧🇩 Bengali
- চাষ করা (cāṣ kôra) - [preparing and using land for crops]
- IPA: /t͡ʃaʃ kɔra/
- Respelling: chaash KOR-ah
- বাড়ানো (bāṛānô) - [fostering the growth or development]
- IPA: /baɹano/
- Respelling: BAAR-ah-no
🇷🇺 Russian
- Возделывать (Vozdelyvat') - [preparing and using land for crops]
- IPA: /vɐzˈdʲelɨvətʲ/
- Respelling: voz-DYEL-y-vaht
- Культивировать (Kul'tivirovat') - [fostering the growth or development]
- IPA: /kʊltʲɪvʲɪˈrovətʲ/
- Respelling: kool-tee-vee-ROH-vaht
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- Cultivar - [preparing and using land for crops or fostering the growth]
- IPA: /kulˈti.vɐɾ/
- Respelling: kool-TEE-var
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- Bertani - [preparing and using land for crops]
- IPA: /bərˈtani/
- Respelling: ber-TAH-nee
- Membina - [fostering the growth or development]
- IPA: /məmˈbina/
- Respelling: mem-BEE-nah
🇩🇪 German
- Anbauen - [preparing and using land for crops]
- IPA: /ˈan.baʊ̯.ən/
- Respelling: AHN-bow-en
- Kultivieren - [fostering the growth or development]
- IPA: /kʊltiˈviːrən/
- Respelling: kool-tee-VEE-ren
🇯🇵 Japanese
- 栽培する (saibai suru) - [preparing and using land for crops]
- IPA: /sa.i.bai sɯ̟ᵝɾɯ̟ᵝ/
- Respelling: sigh-BYE soo-roo
- 育成する (ikusei suru) - [fostering the growth or development]
- IPA: /ikɯ̟ᵝ.sei sɯ̟ᵝɾɯ̟ᵝ/
- Respelling: ee-KOO-say soo-roo
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- Trồng trọt - [preparing and using land for crops]
- IPA: /ʈʂoŋ˧˥ ʈʂɔt˧˥/
- Respelling: chong TROT
- Phát triển - [fostering the growth or development]
- IPA: /ɸaːt˧˥ ʈʂiən˧˥/
- Respelling: phat TRYEN
🇰🇷 Korean
- 경작하다 (gyeongjakhada) - [preparing and using land for crops]
- IPA: /kjʌŋ.dʑakʰa.da/
- Respelling: GYUNG-jak-HAH-dah
- 배양하다 (baeyanghada) - [fostering the growth or development]
- IPA: /pʰɛ.jaŋ.ha.da/
- Respelling: BAE-yahng-HAH-dah
🇹🇷 Turkish
- Yetiştirmek - [preparing and using land for crops or fostering the growth]
- IPA: /jeˈtiʃtir.mek/
- Respelling: yeh-TISH-teer-mek
🇵🇰 Urdu
- کاشت کرنا (kaasht karnā) - [preparing and using land for crops]
- IPA: /kɑːʃt kər.naː/
- Respelling: KAASHT kar-naa
- فروغ دینا (faroogh denā) - [fostering the growth or development]
- IPA: /fə.roːɣ deː.naː/
- Respelling: fa-ROOGH day-naa
