n.
Pronunciation: ' k ə lt
Function: noun
Usage: often attrib
Etymology: French & Latin; French culte, from Latin cultus care, adoration, from colere to cultivate ― more at WHEEL
Date: 1617
1 : formal religious veneration : WORSHIP
2 : a system of religious beliefs and ritual also : its body of adherents
3 : a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious also : its body of adherents
4 : a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator <health cult s >
5 a : great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book) especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b : the object of such devotion c : a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion
– cul · tic \ ' k ə l-tik \ adjective
– cult · ish \ -tish \ adjective
– cult · ish · ly \ -l ē \ adverb
– cult · ish · ness \ -n ə s \ noun
– cult · ism \ ' k ə l- ˌ ti-z ə m \ noun
– cult · ist \ ' k ə l-tist \ noun
– cult · like \ - ˌ l ī k \ adjective