Cultured

Part of Speech

Adjective

Pronunciation

/ˈkʌltʃərd/

Definitions

• Having or displaying refined taste, manners, and education; sophisticated.
• Relating to or characterized by the cultivation of culture, especially the arts.
• Biology: Describing cells, tissues, or organisms that are grown in controlled conditions, often for research purposes.

Usage Examples

• She is a cultured individual, with a deep appreciation for classical music and literature.
• The cultured pearls were highly valued in the market for their beauty and rarity.
• The scientist cultured bacteria in a petri dish to study their growth rate.

Etymology

The word "cultured" is derived from the Latin word "cultura," meaning cultivation or tending, from "colere," meaning to cultivate or care for. The term began to be used in the 18th century to describe people with refined tastes in the arts, and it has since expanded to include biological uses in the 20th century, especially in reference to laboratory-grown cells and organisms.

Synonyms

• Refined
• Sophisticated
• Polished
• Educated
• Civilized

Antonyms

• Uncultured
• Unrefined
• Ignorant
• Barbaric
• Uneducated

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

The pronunciation of "cultured" may vary slightly depending on the region. In some areas, particularly in the UK, the "r" sound may be less pronounced, while in other dialects, such as American English, the "r" is more prominent. The word remains commonly used with the same meaning but may be stressed differently depending on regional accents.

Historical Usage

The term "cultured" began to be used in the 18th century as a description for individuals who were refined and well-educated, especially in the arts. Over time, the word's use expanded to describe anything that was cultivated, including biological cells and organisms grown in laboratories. In contemporary usage, "cultured" still refers to both the educated person and the biological concept, with both meanings carrying a sense of refinement or intentional cultivation.

Cultural Nuances

The concept of being "cultured" is often associated with elitism in some cultures, as it implies a level of education and refinement that may not be accessible to everyone. In some societies, cultured individuals are celebrated for their sophistication, while in others, they may be viewed with suspicion or as out of touch with the "common people." The term can sometimes carry both positive and negative connotations depending on the context and the speaker's perspective on education, refinement, and social class.

More Information

The word "cultured" has a dual significance in modern language, capturing both the individual’s cultivation in the intellectual sense and the biological process. While it once referred solely to human refinement in the arts and manners, it now encompasses a range of meanings in different contexts, from lab-grown cells to the social practices of refined individuals. The evolution of its meaning reflects society's changing values and ideas about what it means to be "cultured" or sophisticated.