culture
culture
Pronunciation
/ˈkʌltʃər/.
First Syllable (/kʌl/):
/k/: Voiceless velar stop
/ʌ/: Near-open central unrounded vowel (as in "cut")
/l/: Alveolar lateral approximant
Second Syllable (/tʃər/):
/tʃ/: Voiceless post-alveolar affricate (as in "church")
/ər/: R-colored vowel (as in "bird" or "butter" in non-rhotic accents)
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: culture
Plural: cultures
Verb:
Base form: culture
Present participle: culturing
Past tense: cultured
Past participle: cultured
Third-person singular present: cultures
Adjective (derived forms):
Cultured (meaning refined or educated)
Cultural (meaning relating to culture)
Adverb (derived form):
Culturally (meaning in a cultural way)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Culture (Noun)
Definition: The shared patterns of behavior, beliefs, values, customs, arts, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought that characterize a particular group, community, or society and are transmitted from one generation to the next.
Synonyms: Civilization, society, heritage, tradition, way of life, customs, ethos, mores.
Antonyms: Anarchy, disorganization, barbarism (in the sense of lacking social structure).
Definition: A high degree of intellectual, aesthetic, and moral development; refinement of taste and manners acquired through education and exposure to the arts.
Synonyms: Refinement, sophistication, cultivation, education, enlightenment, polish, urbanity, erudition.
Antonyms: Ignorance, vulgarity, boorishness, crudeness, philistinism, uncouthness.
Definition: The systematic growth and development of living organisms, such as bacteria, cells, or plants, in a controlled environment for scientific study, industrial production, or agricultural purposes.
Synonyms: Cultivation, propagation, husbandry, growth, rearing, farming (when applied to plants/animals).
Antonyms: Destruction, eradication, neglect, wildness (in the sense of uncontrolled growth).
Definition: A particular set of cells, bacteria, or other living organisms grown in a prepared nutrient medium.
Synonyms: Specimen, sample, batch, growth.
Antonyms: Sterility, absence.
Culture (Verb)
Definition: To grow or maintain living organisms, such as microorganisms or tissues, in a prepared nutrient medium under controlled conditions.
Synonyms: Cultivate, grow, propagate, raise, incubate.
Antonyms: Sterilize, kill, neglect, eradicate.
Definition: To develop or refine (the mind, tastes, or manners) through education, exposure to art, or intellectual pursuits.
Synonyms: Cultivate, educate, civilize, enlighten, polish, refine, train, nurture.
Antonyms: Neglect, degrade, debase, corrupt, miseducate.
Culture (Adjective - used less commonly directly as an adjective, often as "cultured")
While "culture" itself is rarely used as a direct adjective (you'd typically say "cultural" or "cultured"), here's the sense it conveys when it is occasionally used, often informally or as part of a compound:
Definition: Pertaining to or characteristic of a specific culture or a high level of intellectual and artistic refinement.
Synonyms: Cultural, artistic, refined, sophisticated, educated.
Antonyms: Uncultured, unrefined, uncivilized, coarse, uneducated.
Word Form Variations:
Noun:
Singular: culture
Plural: cultures
Verb:
Base form: culture
Present participle: culturing
Past tense: cultured
Past participle: cultured
Third-person singular present: cultures
Adjective:
Cultured (derived from the verb "to culture," meaning refined or educated)
Cultural (derived from the noun "culture," meaning relating to culture)
Adverb:
Culturally (derived from the adjective "cultural")
Examples of Use
Books:
"The two leading cultures of the ancient world were Greece and Rome." (J.M. Roberts, The Penguin History of the World)
"In The Interpretation of Cultures, Geertz argues that anthropology is not an experimental science in search of laws but an interpretive one in search of meaning." (Clifford Geertz, The Interpretation of Cultures)
"Every society has its own unique culture, shaped by its history, geography, and interactions with other peoples." (Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind)
Newspapers:
"The new exhibition explores how climate change is impacting Indigenous cultures in the Arctic." (The New York Times, Environmental Section)
"Company CEO pledges to foster a positive workplace culture after recent controversies." (The Wall Street Journal, Business Section)
"Local restaurant aims to culture fresh herbs on-site to enhance their dishes." (The Guardian, Food & Drink Section)
Online Publications:
"The rise of remote work has significantly shifted office culture in many tech companies." (Wired.com, "The Future of Work" article)
"Understanding Gen Z's online culture is crucial for brands hoping to connect with younger audiences." (Forbes.com, Marketing & Advertising section)
"Scientists are attempting to culture new strains of bacteria to combat antibiotic resistance." (ScienceDaily.com, Biology News)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series (Dialogue): "You know, the biggest challenge moving here was adapting to the local culture." (From a travel documentary, e.g., Parts Unknown)
Film (Review): "The film offers a fascinating glimpse into the vibrant culture of 1960s London." (Film critic's review on Rotten Tomatoes)
Music (Song Title/Lyric): "That's the power of culture." (Used in a song lyric about the unifying power of shared traditions, e.g., a hip-hop track celebrating a community's roots)
Podcasts (Discussion): "Today, we're discussing cancel culture and its implications for free speech." (From a current affairs podcast, e.g., The Daily)
Video Games (Game Description): "Explore a rich open world shaped by ancient cultures and mystical lore." (Description for a fantasy role-playing game, e.g., Elden Ring)
Social Media (User Post): "Loving the food and the friendly culture here in Oaxaca! #travel #mexico #culturetrip" (Instagram post with a photo)
General Public Discourse:
"We need to create a culture of innovation in our schools." (Statement by an educational reformer during a public speech)
"The team's culture of hard work and mutual support was key to their championship win." (Sports commentator during a post-game interview)
"My doctor said they're going to send a swab to the lab to culture for any bacterial infections." (Everyday conversation about a medical test)
"There's a growing culture of fitness and healthy eating in our community." (Community leader discussing local trends)
10 Famous Quotes Using Culture
"Science and art belong to the whole world, and before them vanish the barriers of nationality." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Conversations with Eckermann)
"The highest result of education is tolerance." (Helen Keller, The Story of My Life)
"Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit." (Jawaharlal Nehru, The Discovery of India)
"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family." (Kofi Annan, Speech at the World Summit on the Information Society)
"I believe that culture is a weapon in the struggle for freedom." (Aimé Césaire, Discourse on Colonialism)
"Civilization is a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities." (Mark Twain, A Tramp Abroad)
"We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." (John F. Kennedy, Speech to the American Newspaper Publishers Association)
"Man lives by bread alone, when there is no bread. But when there is bread, he lives by the arts." (Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago)
"You don't start with a 'what' – you start with a 'why.'" (Simon Sinek, Start With Why) – Metaphorical use, referring to the "culture" or purpose of an organization.
"The unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates, as quoted by Plato in Apology) – Though not directly using "culture," it speaks to the fundamental human pursuit of self-knowledge and intellectual development that is a hallmark of many cultures.
Etymology
Let's break down the history of the word "culture" in simple terms.
The word "culture" comes to us from Latin. Its root is the Latin verb colere, which meant:
To tend
To cultivate (as in, to grow crops)
To inhabit
To worship
Think of it like taking care of something and helping it grow.
From colere, we get the Latin noun cultura. This noun specifically meant "a tilling, a cultivating" of the land. So, its very first meaning was directly tied to agriculture – the act of working the soil to produce food.
The word then traveled into Old French as couture, still holding onto that meaning of cultivation and tilling. This is also where we get the word "couture" in fashion today, referring to highly cultivated or tailored clothing.
When the word entered English around the 15th century (the late 1400s), its first known use and meaning was still very much connected to this agricultural sense: the tilling of land; husbandry; cultivation of the soil.
Over time, the meaning of "culture" began to broaden and become more abstract:
16th century: It started being used for the cultivation of the mind – educating and refining a person's intellect and manners. This is where we get the idea of being "cultured."
18th-19th centuries: German thinkers began using it to refer to the distinctive way of life of a particular nation or group. This is the meaning we most commonly use today when we talk about, for example, "Japanese culture" or "corporate culture" – referring to the shared customs, beliefs, and behaviors of a group.
19th century onwards: The scientific sense emerged, referring to the growth of bacteria or cells in a lab setting (as in "bacterial culture"). This goes back to the core idea of "cultivating" something to grow it.
So, in essence, "culture" started with literal dirt and growing plants, then moved to growing minds, and finally to describing the complex tapestry of human society itself.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Culture
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "culture," along with some supplementary options:
Common Phrases/Idioms with "Culture":
Cancel culture: A contemporary phenomenon of publicly shaming and boycotting individuals or organizations perceived to have acted or spoken offensively.
Company culture / Corporate culture: The shared values, beliefs, practices, and attitudes that characterize an organization's internal environment.
Culture shock: The feeling of disorientation experienced by someone when suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.
Culture vulture: (Often slightly derogatory) A person who is extremely keen on acquiring or consuming culture, especially in a superficial way.
Popular culture (Pop culture): The segment of a culture that is widely favored or well-known and is adopted by the general public.
Youth culture: The customs, beliefs, and practices of young people, often distinct from the mainstream adult society.
Culture war(s): A conflict between groups with different ideals, beliefs, and values.
To cultivate a culture: To actively develop and foster a specific set of shared behaviors, values, or practices within a group or organization.
High culture: The cultural products, often artistic, that are considered to be of the highest aesthetic value by a society.
Low culture: (Often derogatory) Cultural products considered to be of lesser intellectual or artistic value, often associated with mass appeal.
Lesser-Known/Original Phrases / Idioms with Synonyms:
A cultured palate: Someone with refined taste in food and drink. (Uses "cultured," a derivative)
Beyond the pale of civilization: Outside the bounds of what is considered acceptable or morally good behavior in a society. (Uses "civilization" as a synonym for "culture")
The fabric of society: The intricate network of relationships, customs, and institutions that form the basic structure of a community or nation. (Similar effect to "the core of a culture")
To immerse oneself in a way of life: To fully engage and experience the customs and practices of a particular group. (Uses "way of life" as a synonym)
A melting pot of traditions: A place or situation where many different customs and beliefs are mixed together. (Uses "traditions" as a cultural element)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of culture from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
