This is one of many English words which derives from the Latin word colere, meaning to till, cultivate, or inhabit. The word "culture" derives from the same root. Cultivation, specifically, refers to the preparation, use, and maintenance of soil for growing crops, as well as to the growing of crops from seeds or bulbs. Cultivation can also refer to the improvement of a plant species using horticultural techniques. This meaning gives rise to another common use of the word: as a synonym for the improvement, nurture, or refinement of people. In this latter use, "cultivate" implies the acquisition of traits which are associated with "high culture." For example, our schools hope to cultivate an appreciation for art and music in young children.
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