cultivate Definition

cultivate
verb cultivated, cultivating

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

Thesaurus: plant, till, garden, seed.
2. To grow (a crop, plant, etc).

Thesaurus: plant, raise, grow.
3. To develop or improve.

Example: cultivate a taste for literature
Thesaurus: educate, refine, nurture, train, develop, encourage, foster, advance, further, bolster, improve, teach, civilize, enrich.
4. To try to develop a friendship, a relationship, etc with (someone), especially for personal advantage.

Etymology: 17c: from Latin cultivare, cultivatum, ultimately from colere to till or take care of.