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Culture Definition, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：shared societal practices (culture)
culture
/ˈkʌltʃər/
n.
The ideas, customs, social behaviors, and arts of a particular group of people.
shared societal practices
➕
/ʃɛərd səˈsaɪətl ˈpræktɪsɪz/
n.
The set of shared attitudes, values, customs, and beliefs that characterize a group, including its arts, knowledge, and social behaviors.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'cultura' (cultivation, care), from 'colere' (to till, inhabit).
💡 Mnemonic
'Cult' + 'ure' – think of cultivating shared habits like a garden.
📖 Example
I was fascinated by the rich culture of Japan, from its ancient temples to its modern pop music.
I was fascinated by the rich culture of Japan, from its ancient temples to its modern pop music.
🔗 Collocations
corporate culture – The values and practices of a company
pop culture – Mainstream popular entertainment and trends
culture shock – Disorientation when encountering an unfamiliar culture
🔄 Synonyms
civilization (n.) – The advanced state of human society with developed arts, science, and governance
heritage (n.) – Cultural traditions and achievements passed down from earlier generations
customs (n.) – Traditional practices and social conventions of a group
🌱 Derivatives
cultural (adj.) – Relating to the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a society
cultured (adj.) – Having refined knowledge of arts and culture
culturally (adv.) – In a way that relates to culture
📖 Cultural Story
Originally meant the tilling of land in Latin; Cicero metaphorically applied it to philosophy as 'cultura animi' (cultivation of the soul).
Meaning 2：laboratory cultivation (culture)
culture
/ˈkʌltʃər/
n.
The process of growing bacteria, cells, or plants in a controlled environment for scientific study.
laboratory cultivation
➕
/ləˈbɔːrətɔːri ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃən/
n.
The process of growing microorganisms or cells in a controlled nutrient medium for research or medical purposes.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
In the biology lab, we learned how to grow a culture of bacteria in a petri dish.
In the biology lab, we learned how to grow a culture of bacteria in a petri dish.
🔗 Collocations
cell culture – Growth of cells in a controlled artificial environment
bacterial culture – Propagation of bacteria in a laboratory setting
culture medium – Nutrient substance used to support the growth of microorganisms
🔄 Synonyms
cultivation (n.) – The process of growing organisms or cells under controlled conditions
growth (n.) – The increase in number or size of cells or microorganisms
propagation (n.) – The act of multiplying organisms by natural or artificial means
🚫 Antonyms
sterilization (n.) – The process of killing all microorganisms, ending any culture
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