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n. 1. a. The arts, beliefs, customs, institutions, and other products of human work and thought considered as a unit, especially with regard to a particular time or social group: Edwardian culture; Japanese culture. b. These arts, beliefs, and other products considered with respect to a particular subject or mode of expression: musical culture; oral culture. c. The set of predominating attitudes and behavior that characterize a group or organization: a manager who changed the corporate culture. 2. Mental refinement and sophisticated taste resulting from the appreciation of the arts and sciences: a woman of great culture. 3. Special training and development: voice culture for singers and actors. 4. The cultivation of soil; tillage: the culture of the soil. 5. The breeding or cultivation of animals or plants for food, the improvement of stock, or other purposes. 6. Biology a. The growing of microorganisms, tissue cells, or other living matter in a specially prepared nutrient medium. b. Such a growth or colony, as of bacteria. tr.v. cul·tured, cul·tur·ing, cul·tures 1. To cultivate (soil or plants). 2. a. To grow (microorganisms or other living matter) in a specially prepared nutrient medium. b. To use (a substance) as a medium for culture: culture milk. [Middle English, cultivation, from Old French, from Latin cultūra, from cultus, past participle of colere; see CULTIVATE.]  (click for a larger image) cultureculture of rice blast fungus, Pyricularia grisea, growing in a petri dish |
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