1. (v. t.) To bestow attention, care, and labor upon, with a view to valuable returns; to till; to fertilize; as, to cultivate soil.

2. (v. t.) To direct special attention to; to devote time and thought to; to foster; to cherish.

3. (v. t.) To seek the society of; to court intimacy with.

4. (v. t.) To improve by labor, care, or study; to impart culture to; to civilize; to refine.

5. (v. t.) To raise or produce by tillage; to care for while growing; as, to cultivate corn or grass.

advance ameliorate apprentice approach backset beautify better break break in break the ice breed bring up brown-nose butter up care for carve cherish chisel coddle condition convert cosset court courteous cradle crop cultivated culture cultured cut delve develop dig discipline distingue dress drill dry-nurse educate elaborate embellish encourage evolve excite exercise extract fallow farm feed fertilize fetch up finish fit fondle force form foster further groom grow harrow harvest hoe house-train housebreak improve instruct labor lavish care on lick into shape list machine make advances make sensitive make up to manage mature mill mine mother mulch nourish nurse nurture pamper pay addresses to pay court to perfect play up to plow polish polished polite practice prepare process produce promote propagate prune pump put in tune put to school quicken raise rake ready rear refine refined rehearse ripen run after season send to school sensibilize sensitize sharpen shine up to smelt spade spoon-feed stimulate stir suck up to suckle sustain take in hand teach tend thin thin out till till the soil train urbane weed weed out well-bred wet-nurse whet woo work work on