ENGLISH
REFERENCE

culture

n. C / U
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈkəɫtʃɝ// UK //kˈʌltʃɐ// cul·ture Academic General-service Humorous

n. the way of life, including customs, beliefs, and art, of a particular group of people. It can also mean the shared interests and habits of a smaller group, like a company or a school.

n. the collective customs, social institutions, and intellectual achievements of a particular nation, people, or social group. In a biological context, it refers to the cultivation of bacteria or cells in a prepared medium.


SIMPLE

I love learning about Japanese culture.

CONTEXTUAL

The new manager is trying to change the company culture to be more inclusive and collaborative.

COMPLEX

While the archaeological record provides physical evidence of the civilization, its intangible culture—such as oral traditions and religious rituals—remains largely a matter of scholarly interpretation.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle French culture (“cultivation; culture”), from Latin cultūra (“cultivation; culture”), from cultus, perfect passive participle of colō (“till, cultivate, to grow, worship”) (related to colōnus and colōnia), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷel- (“to move; to turn (around)”).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general concept of human society; countable when referring to specific groups or biological samples.

Idioms1 entry

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