Culture
/ˈkʌltʃər/
Definitions
3 meaningsThe shared customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular group of people.
/ˈkʌltʃər/
The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or group.
Chinese culture is rich in history and tradition.
💡 Simply: Culture is like a group's personality. It's how they do things, what they believe, and what they make. Like, how they eat, what they wear, and what kind of music they like.
👶 For kids: Culture is all the things that a group of people do, like their special foods, games, and stories.
More Examples
We need to understand the local culture to do business successfully.
The museum showcases the art and culture of the region.
A company's culture often affects its employees' morale.
How It's Used
"Anthropologists study different cultures around the world."
"Understanding a society's culture is key to understanding its social dynamics."
"The company has a strong organizational culture of teamwork."
The arts and intellectual achievements of a society.
/ˈkʌltʃər/
The arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.
The city is known for its vibrant culture and thriving arts scene.
💡 Simply: Culture can also be all the cool stuff people make and do, like art, music, and books. When people are into culture, they like to see plays, visit museums, and read a lot.
👶 For kids: Culture can also mean cool things like art, music, and books.
More Examples
We attended a cultural festival celebrating the diverse heritage of the community.
He is deeply interested in history and culture.
The film explores the themes of identity and culture.
How It's Used
"She is a patron of the arts and a great supporter of culture."
"A liberal arts education aims to expose students to various aspects of culture."
The propagation of microorganisms, cells, or tissues in a special media under controlled conditions.
/ˈkʌltʃər/
The cultivation of bacteria, tissues, cells, etc., for scientific study.
The lab performed a bacterial culture to diagnose the disease.
💡 Simply: In science, culture means growing tiny things like germs or cells in a special dish so that scientists can study them.
👶 For kids: In science, culture is like growing tiny plants but instead of plants, scientists grow tiny germs or cells!
More Examples
Cell culture is an essential technique in biomedical research.
A blood culture test can help identify the presence of infection.
Researchers are experimenting with plant tissue culture to improve crop yields.
How It's Used
"The doctor ordered a blood culture to identify the infection."
"Scientists are working on cell culture techniques for regenerative medicine."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
high culture
Cultural products or activities, such as classical music, opera, and ballet, considered to be of high quality and sophistication, and often associated with the elite.
"She appreciates high culture and frequently attends opera performances."
popular culture
Cultural activities, products, or trends that are widely accepted and enjoyed by the mainstream population.
"Popular culture includes things like movies, music, and fashion trends."
culture shock
The feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.
"Moving to a new country can lead to culture shock."
From Latin *cultura*, meaning 'cultivation' or 'tilling'. It originally referred to the care of crops and animals, then evolved to encompass the development of human capacities through education and training. Later, it expanded to include the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or group.
The term's usage shifted significantly over time. Initially tied to agriculture, it began to describe refinement and intellectual pursuits in the 18th century. The anthropological sense became prominent in the 19th century.
Memory tip
Think of the word 'agriculture' - it's about tending to things. Culture is about tending to the human side of things: ideas, beliefs, and traditions.
Word Origin
"cultivation, care"