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culture
/ˈkʌlt͡ʃə/
The word 'culture' is primarily used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general customs, arts, and achievements of a society or group (e.g., 'The country has a rich culture'). It can be used as a countable noun when referring to specific instances or types of culture (e.g., 'We studied different European cultures'). In science, particularly biology, 'a culture' refers to a specific sample grown in a lab (e.g., 'The lab prepared three cultures'). It's generally a neutral term but can sometimes carry connotations of sophistication or refinement depending on the context.
💬Casual Conversation
We need to pivot toward a more 'agile' culture here. Thoughts?
I'm just trying to keep the servers from crashing, man. Give it a rest.
Meanings
The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or group.
"We studied ancient Roman culture."
The cultivation of bacteria, tissue cells, etc., in an artificial medium.
"The lab grew a culture of E. coli."
The ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular society or group of people.
"The company has a very competitive culture."
The attitudes and behavior characteristic of a particular social group, often in contrast to an individual's behavior.
"He doesn't fit into the corporate culture."
Examples
The city has such a vibrant, welcoming culture.
I just can't handle this toxic corporate culture anymore!
We need to keep the bacterial culture refrigerated, okay?
Look, I just don't fit into your weird family culture.
She is deeply fascinated by traditional Japanese culture.
Is the culture ready for testing, or are we waiting?
The team's shared culture is what makes them successful.
Seriously? This 'hustle culture' is literally killing me!
Collocations & Compounds
corporate culture
The shared values, beliefs, and behaviors that characterize an organization.
The new CEO wants to change the corporate culture.
company culture
The general character, atmosphere, and practices of a business organization.
We foster a positive company culture.
national culture
The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize a nation.
We are proud of our national culture.
workplace culture
The environment and attitudes that exist within a place of work.
The toxic workplace culture led to high turnover.
youth culture
The beliefs, customs, and behaviors of young people.
She is deeply immersed in youth culture.
Idioms & Sayings
culture shock
A feeling of confusion or anxiety caused by being in an unfamiliar foreign environment.
He experienced severe culture shock upon arriving in Tokyo.
culture vulture
A person who is very interested in art, music, and other cultural activities.
She's a real culture vulture, always at the gallery openings.
Cultural Context
When we hear the word "culture" today, we immediately think of museums, jazz festivals, social norms, or the distinct identity of a nation. However, if you had used this word in the 14th century, your audience would have thought you were talking about gardening or farming. The etymology of culture is a fascinating mirror of human evolution, tracing a path from the physical tilling of the earth to the metaphysical cultivation of the mind.
Derived from the Latin "cultura," meaning cultivation or tending, the word originally described the act of preparing the soil for crops. It was about growth through discipline and environment. For centuries, this agricultural meaning reigned supreme. But during the Renaissance, a poetic shift occurred. Intellectuals began to apply the metaphor of farming to the human spirit. Just as a farmer weeds a garden to allow a flower to bloom, philosophers argued that education and art could "cultivate" a person's intellect and morality. This gave birth to the concept of a "cultured" person—someone whose mind had been carefully tended and refined.
By the 19th century, the scope expanded even further. Anthropologists began using the term not just for individual refinement, but to describe the collective habits, beliefs, and social structures of entire groups of people. This transitioned the word from a verb-like process (the act of cultivating) into a noun describing a shared identity.
Interestingly, this linguistic journey comes full circle in the world of science. In microbiology, when scientists grow a "culture" of bacteria in a petri dish, they are returning to that original Latin root: providing a specific environment to foster growth. Whether we are discussing the high-brow culture of an opera house, the corporate culture of a Silicon Valley startup, or a bacterial culture in a lab, we are always talking about the same fundamental human obsession: the desire to create the right conditions for something to grow and thrive.
Etymology
The word 'culture' comes from the Latin word 'cultura', which means 'tending, caring for, cultivation'. It is derived from 'colere', meaning 'to till, cultivate'. Initially, in English (from the 15th century), it referred to the 'tending of the soil' or agriculture. By the 17th century, its meaning broadened to include the 'cultivation of the mind, faculties, or character'. The sense of 'the arts and intellectual achievements' emerged in the 18th century, influenced by French usage. The anthropological sense, referring to the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation or group, became prominent in the 19th century, notably through the work of scholars like Edward Tylor. The biological sense of 'growing microorganisms' dates back to the late 19th century.