cul|ti|vate /kʌ lt I ve I t/ (cultivates , cultivating , cultivated )
1 VERB If you cultivate land or crops, you prepare land and grow crops on it. □ [V n] She also cultivated a small garden of her own. □ [V -ed] …the few patches of cultivated land. ● cul|ti|va|tion /kʌ lt I ve I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the cultivation of fruits and vegetables. □ Farmers with many acres under cultivation profited.
2 VERB If you cultivate an attitude, image, or skill, you try hard to develop it and make it stronger or better. □ [V n] Cultivating a positive mental attitude towards yourself can reap tremendous benefits. ● cul|ti|va|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the cultivation of a positive approach to life and health.
3 VERB If you cultivate someone or cultivate a friendship with them, you try hard to develop a friendship with them. □ [V n] He may be monarch one day so we must cultivate him. □ [V n] The President has carefully cultivated relationships with at least five influential ministers.
cul|ti|vat|ed /kʌ lt I ve I t I d/
1 ADJ If you describe someone as cultivated , you mean they are well educated and have good manners. [FORMAL ] □ His mother was an elegant, cultivated woman.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Cultivated plants have been developed for growing on farms or in gardens. □ …a mixture of wild and cultivated varieties.
cul|ti|va|tor /kʌ lt I ve I tə r / (cultivators ) N‑COUNT A cultivator is a tool or machine which is used to break up the earth or to remove weeds, for example in a garden or field.
cul|tur|al ◆◇◇ /kʌ ltʃərəl/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Cultural means relating to a particular society and its ideas, customs, and art. □ …a deep sense of personal honour which was part of his cultural heritage. □ …the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation which promotes cultural and educational exchanges between Britain and India. ● cul|tur|al|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ …an informed guide to culturally- and historically-significant sites. □ Culturally, they have much in common with their neighbours just across the border.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] Cultural means involving or concerning the arts. □ …the sponsorship of sports and cultural events by tobacco companies. ● cul|tur|al|ly ADV [ADV adj] □ …one of our better-governed, culturally-active regional centres–Manchester or Birmingham, say.
cu l|tur|al awa re|ness N‑UNCOUNT Someone's cultural awareness is their understanding of the differences between themselves and people from other countries or other backgrounds, especially differences in attitudes and values. □ …programs to promote diversity and cultural awareness within the industry.
cul|ture ◆◆◇ /kʌ ltʃə r / (cultures , culturing , cultured )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Culture consists of activities such as the arts and philosophy, which are considered to be important for the development of civilization and of people's minds. □ …aspects of popular culture. □ …France's Minister of Culture and Education.
2 N‑COUNT A culture is a particular society or civilization, especially considered in relation to its beliefs, way of life, or art. □ …people from different cultures. □ We live in a culture that is competitive.
3 N‑COUNT The culture of a particular organization or group consists of the habits of the people in it and the way they generally behave. □ [+ of ] The benefits system creates a culture of dependency.
4 N‑COUNT In science, a culture is a group of bacteria or cells which are grown, usually in a laboratory as part of an experiment. [TECHNICAL ] □ [+ of ] …a culture of human cells.
5 VERB In science, to culture a group of bacteria or cells means to grow them, usually in a laboratory as part of an experiment. [TECHNICAL ] □ [V n] To confirm the diagnosis, the hospital laboratory must culture a colony of bacteria. SYNONYMS culture NOUN 3
lifestyle: They enjoyed an income and lifestyle that many people would envy.
way of life: Mining activities have totally disrupted the traditional way of life of these people.
cul|tured /kʌ ltʃə r d/ ADJ If you describe someone as cultured , you mean that they have good manners, are well educated, and know a lot about the arts. □ He is a cultured man with a wide circle of friends.
cu l|tured pea rl (cultured pearls ) N‑COUNT A cultured pearl is a pearl that is created by putting sand or grit into an oyster.
cu l|ture shock N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] Culture shock is a feeling of anxiety, loneliness, and confusion that people sometimes experience when they first arrive in another country. □ Callum, recently arrived in Glasgow, is jobless, homeless, friendless, and suffering from culture shock.
cul|vert /kʌ lvə r t/ (culverts ) N‑COUNT A culvert is a water pipe or sewer that crosses under a road or railway.
-cum- /-kʌm-/ COMB -cum- is put between two nouns to form a noun referring to something or someone that is partly one thing and partly another. □ …a dining-room-cum-study.
cum|ber|some /kʌ mbə r səm/
1 ADJ Something that is cumbersome is large and heavy and therefore difficult to carry, wear, or handle. □ Although the machine looks cumbersome, it is actually easy to use.
2 ADJ A cumbersome system or process is very complicated and inefficient. □ …an old and cumbersome computer system.
cum|in /kʌ m I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Cumin is a sweet-smelling spice, and is popular in Indian cooking.