cultivation
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of preparing land and growing plants or crops on it.
the process of tilling, planting, and tending land for agricultural production.
Simple“The cultivation of rice requires a lot of water and a warm climate.”
In context“Extensive cultivation of the valley floor has led to significant changes in the local water table over the last decade.”
UsageUncountable when referring to the general practice; countable when referring to specific methods.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the act of working hard to develop a specific quality, skill, or feeling.
the deliberate development or refinement of a particular faculty, habit, or attribute.
Simple“The cultivation of good study habits is essential for success at university.”
In context“The philosopher argued that the cultivation of empathy was a prerequisite for any functioning democratic society.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'of'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
the effort you put into making a relationship or friendship stronger.
the intentional effort to foster and maintain social or professional relationships.
Simple“The manager spent a lot of time on the cultivation of new business partners.”
In context“Successful diplomacy relies on the careful cultivation of long-term alliances rather than short-term political gains.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
the state of being polite, well-educated, and having good taste.
the state of being refined or enlightened through education and social training.
Simple“He was a man of great cultivation who loved opera and classical history.”
In context“Her letters reveal a woman of extraordinary cultivation, deeply engaged with the intellectual currents of her time.”
SynonymsAntonymsvulgarityignorance
“For this purpose, he recommended the cultivation of ‘serene, soft, and harmonious’ manners to combat angry, zealous political ‘warfare’.”
“According to Schiebinger, it also operated as a process of selection and cultivation, through which some forms of knowledge were preserved and circulated while others were excluded from the bounds of recognized science.”
From Medieval Latin cultivātus, perfect passive participle of cultivō, + -ion, or Middle French cultivation. By surface analysis, cultivate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.