Definition

1. Noun:

   • The cultivation of plants or breeding of animals: The process of growing or raising living things under controlled conditions.
   • The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or social group: The shared patterns of behaviors, beliefs, and values that characterize a society.
   • The attitudes, values, and behaviors characteristic of a specific organization or group: The prevailing social environment within a company, institution, or community.
   • A state of high development in art, manners, and knowledge: Refinement in taste, intellect, and aesthetic appreciation.
   • (Biology) The process of growing microorganisms or cells in a prepared nutrient medium: A laboratory technique for propagating living cells.
   • The collective knowledge, values, and practices shared by a society: The sum of a society's learned experience and traditions.

2. Verb:

   • To grow (microorganisms, cells, or tissues) in a prepared nutrient medium: To maintain living biological material in an artificial environment for study.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • Modern agriculture focuses on the culture of high-yield crops.
  • Japanese culture places great importance on respect and harmony.
  • The corporate culture at the tech startup is very innovative and fast-paced.
  • She is a person of great culture, well-versed in literature and the arts.
  • The lab technician prepared a bacterial culture to test the antibiotic.
  • Language is a fundamental part of any culture.

• Verb:

  • Scientists culture the virus in the lab to develop a vaccine.

Advanced Usage

• "Culture shock": The feeling of disorientation experienced when encountering an unfamiliar way of life.
  • Moving to a new country often causes culture shock.
• "Culture vulture" (informal): A person who is very interested in and enthusiastic about the arts.
  • She's a real culture vulture, always visiting museums and galleries.
• "To be cultured": To be well-educated and familiar with the arts.
  • He is a cultured individual with a deep appreciation for classical music.

Variants and Related Words

• Cultural (adjective): Relating to the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a society.
  • The city is known for its rich cultural heritage.
• Cultured (adjective): Characterized by refined taste, manners, and education; also, (of a pearl) formed by human intervention.
  • She prefers cultured pearls over natural ones.
• Subculture (noun): A cultural group within a larger culture, often having beliefs or interests at variance with those of the larger culture.
  • The punk subculture of the 1970s had a distinct style and music.

Synonyms

• Noun: Civilization, society, customs, heritage, refinement, cultivation.
• Verb: Grow, cultivate, propagate.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "Culture" is not commonly used to form phrasal verbs. Its verbal use is typically direct.)

Related Idioms

• "A culture of silence": A social environment where people avoid speaking out about problems or issues.
  • The scandal was able to grow due to a culture of silence within the organization.
• "To culture something" (in a business/organizational context): To deliberately develop and encourage a particular attitude or environment.
  • The new CEO wants to culture an environment of open communication.

Noun

1. the raising of plants or animals
   • the culture of oysters
2. the attitudes and behavior that are characteristic of a particular social group or organization
   • the developing drug culture
   • the reason that the agency is doomed to inaction has something to do with the FBI culture
3. a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality
   • they performed with great polish
   • I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose
   • almost an inspiration which gives to all work that finish which is almost art--Joseph Conrad
4. (biology) the growing of microorganisms in a nutrient medium (such as gelatin or agar)
   • the culture of cells in a Petri dish
5. all the knowledge and values shared by a society
6. the tastes in art and manners that are favored by a social group
7. a particular society at a particular time and place
   • early Mayan civilization

Verb

1. grow in a special preparation
   • the biologist grows microorganisms