Cultivate Definition

kŭltə-vāt

cultivated, cultivates, cultivating

verb

cultivated, cultivates, cultivating

To prepare and use (soil or land) for growing crops; till.

Webster's New World

To break up the surface soil around (plants) in order to destroy weeds, prevent crusting, and preserve moisture.

Webster's New World

To grow (plants, crops, etc.)

Webster's New World

To promote the growth of (a biological culture).

American Heritage

To improve or develop (plants) by various horticultural techniques.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Origin of Cultivate

From Medieval Latin cultivātus, perfect passive participle of cultivō (“till, cultivate”), from cultīvus (“tilled”), from Latin cultus, perfect passive participle of colō (“till, cultivate”), which comes from earlier *quelō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷel- (“to move; to turn (around)”). Cognates include Ancient Greek πέλω (pelō) and Sanskrit चरति (cárati). The same Proto-Indo-European root also gave Latin in-quil-īnus (“inhabitant”) and anculus (“servant”).

From Wiktionary
Medieval Latin cultīvāre cultīvāt- from cultīvus tilled from Latin cultus past participle of colere to till kwel-¹ in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition