cultivation

The word “cultivation” means the process of preparing and farming land to grow crops. In plain terms, farming land for crops, or nurturing a skill, talent, or quality over time.

“Cultivation” is pronounced kuhl-tih-VAY-shuhn (/ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃən/ in IPA).

Here is “cultivation” used in a sentence: “The valley is known for its rice cultivation.”

Words with a similar meaning to “cultivation” include tillage.

“Cultivation” is a noun.

The word “cultivation” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin cultivatus plus "-ion," or via Middle French cultivation.

“Cultivation” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Cultivation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the process of preparing and farming land to grow crops.

Cultivation specifically refers to the process of preparing and working land to grow crops, while farming is a broader term covering the whole agricultural operation, including raising livestock. Cultivation can also apply figuratively to developing a skill or quality, a sense farming does not carry.

Yes, cultivation is often used figuratively to describe the ongoing effort to develop or improve a skill or quality, such as "the cultivation of good judgment." This extends the agricultural image of tending land to the idea of nurturing personal growth.

Yes, cultivation applies at any scale, from a home gardener tilling a small plot to a farmer managing hundreds of acres of crops. The word describes the process itself, regardless of the size of the operation.