cultivate

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkʌltɪveɪt/

verb

[with object]
  • 1prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening: the peasants who cultivated the land became its owners
  • break up (soil) in preparation for sowing or planting: (as adjective, with submodifier cultivated) damp, well-cultivated soil
  • raise or grow (plants), especially on a large scale for commercial purposes: they were encouraged to cultivate basic food crops walnuts were cultivated for salad oil
  • 2 Biology grow or maintain (living cells or tissue) in culture: blood cells that can be most easily cultivated are macrophages
  • 3try to acquire or develop (a quality or skill): he cultivated an air of indifference
  • try to win the friendship or favour of (someone): it helps if you go out of your way to cultivate the local people
  • try to improve or develop (one’s mind).

Derivatives

cultivable

adjective

cultivatable

adjective

Origin:

mid 17th century: from medieval Latin cultivat- 'prepared for crops', from the verb cultivare, from cultiva (terra) 'arable (land)', from colere 'cultivate, inhabit'