cultivating

Variant of cultivate

transitive verb cultivated, cultivating

  1. to prepare and use (soil or land) for growing crops; till
  2. to break up the surface soil around (plants) in order to destroy weeds, prevent crusting, and preserve moisture
  3. to grow (plants, crops, fish, etc.) from seeds, bulbs, shoots, etc.
  4. to improve or develop (plants) by various horticultural techniques
  5. to improve by care, training, or study; refine: to cultivate one's mind
  6. to promote the development or growth of; acquire and develop: to cultivate a taste for music
  7. to seek to develop familiarity with; give one's attention to; pursue

Origin: < ML cultivatus, pp. of cultivare < LL cultivus, tilled < L cultus: see cult

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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