cultivator: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “cultivator” mean?
A person or thing that cultivates.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that cultivates; specifically, a machine or implement for breaking up soil and removing weeds around growing plants.
A person who actively promotes the development, improvement, or growth of something (e.g., ideas, arts, skills, relationships); someone who fosters refinement or understanding.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic difference. The agricultural tool is equally common in both regions. The figurative 'person who cultivates' is slightly more formal/literary in both.
Connotations
Neutral for tool. Positive, slightly intellectual or refined for the person (e.g., a cultivator of fine wines).
Frequency
Tool sense has moderate frequency in gardening/agricultural contexts. Figurative sense is low frequency, found in literary, academic, or journalistic writing.
Grammar
How to Use “cultivator” in a Sentence
cultivator of + NOUN (abstract: taste, friendship, art)ADJ + cultivator (rotary, skilled, tireless)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cultivator” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The farmer will cultivate the field before sowing.
- She cultivated a taste for classical music.
American English
- The gardener cultivated the soil to prepare for planting.
- He cultivated relationships with key investors.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form derived directly from 'cultivator']
American English
- [No standard adverbial form derived directly from 'cultivator']
adjective
British English
- The cultivator blade needs sharpening.
- His cultivator efforts were finally rewarded.
American English
- We need a new cultivator attachment for the tractor.
- Her cultivator approach to mentoring is effective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in agriculture business or metaphorically for 'cultivator of client relationships'.
Academic
Used in agricultural science (tool) and humanities (figurative agent, e.g., 'a cultivator of Enlightenment ideals').
Everyday
Primarily refers to the gardening tool. Figurative use is uncommon in casual speech.
Technical
Specific term in agriculture/horticulture for a type of soil-implement.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cultivator”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cultivator”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cultivator”
- Using 'cultivator' for a person in informal contexts where 'supporter' or 'enthusiast' is more natural.
- Confusing with 'cultivator' (tool) and 'cultivator' (person) based on context.
- Misspelling as 'cultivater'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary meaning is an agricultural tool, it is also used figuratively for a person who develops or fosters something non-physical, like skills, relationships, or the arts.
A plough turns over a deep layer of soil, burying weeds and residue, to prepare a new seedbed. A cultivator is typically used for shallower tillage between existing crop rows to aerate soil and kill weeds without deep disturbance.
No, 'cultivator' is only a noun. The related verb is 'to cultivate'.
It is less common than the tool meaning and tends to appear in more formal, literary, or journalistic contexts. In everyday speech, words like 'supporter', 'promoter', or 'enthusiast' are more frequent.
A person or thing that cultivates.
Cultivator is usually formal / technical in register.
Cultivator: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌl.tɪ.veɪ.tə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌl.tə.veɪ.t̬ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'cultivator']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CULTIVATE' + '-OR'. A cultivator is someone or something that DOES the action of cultivating – either land (tool) or an abstract thing (person).
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE FARMERS (OF ABSTRACT THINGS). Ideas, relationships, and talents are conceptualized as plants that need a 'cultivator' to grow them.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'cultivator' used in its figurative sense?