1encourage the development of (something, especially something desirable):the teacher’s task is to foster learning
develop (a feeling or idea) in oneself:appropriate praise helps a child foster a sense of self-worth
2bring up (a child that is not one’s own by birth):a person who would foster Holly was found
British (of a parent or authority) assign (a child) to be brought up by someone other than its parents:when fostering out a child, placement workers will be looking for a home similar to their own
Derivatives
fosterage
noun
fosterer
noun
Origin:
Old Englishfōstrian 'feed, nourish', from fōster 'food, nourishment', of Germanic origin; related to food. The sense 'bring up another's (originally also one's own) child' dates from Middle English. See also foster-
