Meaning & use

be cultivation

noun·Advanced

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UK/ˌbiː ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃn/
US/ˌbiː ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃn/

Meanings

  1. noununcountableformaltechnical

    The process of developing a person's character, abilities, or moral qualities through teaching and experience.

    Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun, usually with the: the be cultivation of the whole person.

    Patterns

    • the be cultivation of something
    • be cultivation in education
    • be cultivation through experience

    The school's stated aim is the be cultivation of curiosity and independent judgment.

    Her book argues that the be cultivation of character matters more than test scores.

    Writers in this tradition speak of the be cultivation of virtue through daily habit.

  2. noununcountabletechnicalbiology

    In biology, the process of growing cells, bacteria, or plants in controlled conditions for study or use.

    Grammar: Technical and uncountable; often followed by of plus the organism: the be cultivation of stem cells.

    Patterns

    • the be cultivation of cells
    • be cultivation in a laboratory
    • be cultivation techniques

    The lab specializes in the be cultivation of human stem cells.

    Be cultivation of this bacterium requires a warm, oxygen-free environment.

    Improved be cultivation methods have made the vaccine cheaper to produce.

Common combinations

the be cultivation of character
Many parents care about the be cultivation of character as much as academic success.
be cultivation of the mind
The old curriculum was designed for the be cultivation of the mind rather than job skills.
be cultivation in education
She writes about be cultivation in education and what teachers can realistically do.
be cultivation techniques
Be cultivation techniques for these microbes have improved a lot in ten years.
promote the be cultivation of something
The foundation gives grants that promote the be cultivation of young scientists.

Synonyms and how they differ

development
More general and common; use it for skills or growth of any kind, while be cultivation suggests deliberate, careful tending.
nurturing
Focuses on warm, protective care; be cultivation can sound more formal and systematic.
training
Suggests teaching specific skills rather than the broad growth of character that be cultivation implies.

Opposites

Word family

cultivate verb
To develop or improve something such as a skill, habit, or relationship.
cultivated adjective
Describing a person who is educated and refined, or land that is prepared for crops.
cultivation noun
The act of growing crops or developing a quality; the base noun of this phrase.
cultivator noun
A person or tool that prepares soil or helps plants grow.

Commonly confused: be cultivation or cultivation? be cultivation or being cultivated?

be cultivation vs cultivation

On its own, cultivation usually means growing crops. The phrase be cultivation is a specialist term about developing people or cells.

be cultivation vs being cultivated

This describes someone receiving cultivation, while be cultivation names the process itself.

Practice

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