All 4 Uses

cultivate
in
Lucky, by Sebold
(Auto-generated)

I couldn't sing either, but I would cultivate what Merman had, or try: force of personality.†
Chpt 3 *

cultivate = develop, grow, or prepare for growing crops
She looked like an exotic breed of dog, sort of a cultivated shar-pei, and she spoke with an aristocratic accent that my mother explained with the words "old money."†
Chpt 5

cultivated = developed, grown, or prepared for growing crops
I had picked theoretical arguments with the deacon of our church, cultivated any obscene narrative I could get my hands on, and imitated Father Breuninger's sermons to the delight of my family and even Father Breuninger himself.†
Chpt 7
One of the judges, Diane Wakoski, took me aside and told me that subjects like rape had a place in poetry but that I would never win the prizes or cultivate an audience at large that way.†
Chpt 12

cultivate = develop, grow, or prepare for growing crops

Definitions:

(1) (cultivate)
enhance growth or development
in various senses, including:
- to grow crops or prepare land for them
- enhance a relationship -- especially for a purpose
- develop discernment (better recognition of differences) in taste or judgment
- to grow a culture in a petri dish
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
The word form cultivator is commonly used to describe a machine used to prepare soil for growing crops.