CULTIVATE

transitive verb (-vated; -vating) Etymology: Medieval Latin cultivatus, past participle of cultivare, from cultivus cultivable, from Latin cultus, past participle of colere Date: circa 1655 to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops, 2. to foster the growth of , culture 2a, to improve by labor, care, or study ; refine , further , encourage , to seek the society of ; make friends with, cultivatable adjective