**cultivated** 336
training, or study: *to cultivate a knowledge of music* **4** to pay special and friendly attention to (someone that you regard as useful): *John always tries to cultivate people who might be able to help him professionally.*
**cul·ti·vat·ed** /'kʌltɪveɪtɪd/ *adj* **1** showing good education, manners etc; cultured: *a cultivated audience* **2** (of land) used for growing crops $\rightarrow$ opposite UNCULTIVATED
**cul·ti·va·tion** /ˌkʌltɪ'veɪʃən/ *n* [U] the process of cultivating: *to bring new land under cultivation* | *the cultivation of cotton*
**cul·ti·va·tor** /'kʌltɪveɪtə/ *n* **1** a tool or machine for loosening earth, destroying unwanted plants etc **2** a person who cultivates, especially a farmer
**cul·tu·ral** /'kʌltʃərəl/ *adj* of or related to culture: *concerts, plays, and other cultural events* | *the cultural diversity of the United States* $\rightarrow$ **-ly** *adv*
**ˌcultural 'literacy** *n* [U] a good general knowledge of the CULTURE of a society, especially a knowledge of the history, literature, art, politics, GEOGRAPHY, science, religion, and FOLKLORE which form a part of that culture, and the knowledge of which is generally shared by the people of that society. The phrase was made famous by the book *Cultural Literacy* written by the American E.D. Hirsh, Jr. et al: *Immigrants often lack cultural literacy of their new country.*
**ˌCultural Revo'lution, the** *n* a period in China, from 1966 to 1969, when its leader Mao Zedong tried to continue and develop the REVOLUTION that brought the Communists to power in China in the 1940s. During this period educated people, including university teachers, artists, and high-ranking government officials, were criticized and physically attacked, and many of them were put in prison or forced to work on the land. The Cultural Revolution was strongly supported by young people, especially students, and many of them joined a group called the Red Guards to carry out Mao's instructions and ideas. $\rightarrow$ see also LITTLE RED BOOK
**cul·ture** /'kʌltʃə/ *n* **1** [C;U] the customs, beliefs, art, music, and all the other products of human thought made by a particular group of people at a particular time: *ancient Greek culture* | *a tribal culture* | *pop culture* | *the culture gap (=difference in culture) between Britain and France* $\rightarrow$ compare CIVILIZATION; see also SUBCULTURE **2** [U] artistic and other activity of the mind, and the works produced by this: *Paris is a good city for people who are interested in culture.* | *a woman of culture and taste* **3** [U] the practice of raising animals and growing plants: *bee culture* $\rightarrow$ see also AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE **4** [C;U] (a group of bacteria produced by) the growing of bacteria for scientific use
**cul·tured** /'kʌltʃəd/ *adj* **1** having or showing good education, manners, and especially an interest in art, music, literature etc: *cultured minds that like good books and paintings* $\rightarrow$ opposite UNCULTURED **2** caused to grow by artificial means: *a cultured virus* | *cultured pearls*
**'culture shock** *n* [U] the feeling of shock or of being disorientated (DISORIENTATE) which someone has when they experience a different and unfamiliar culture
**'culture ˌvulture** *n humor, sometimes derog* a person who is very interested in CULTURE and knows a lot about it, although perhaps they do not make much effort to make judgments about it: *She moved to London, where she suddenly turned into a real culture vulture.*
**cul·vert** /'kʌlvət/ *n* a pipe for waste water that passes under a road, railway line etc
**cum** /kʌm, kʊm/ *prep* (used when one thing, place, event etc has two purposes or natures) combined with; together with: *a kitchen-cum-bathroom (=both in one room)* | *a lunch-cum-business meeting* $\rightarrow$ see also CUM LAUDE
**cum·ber** /'kʌmbə/ *v* [T(with)] *rare* to ENCUMBER
**cum·ber·some** /'kʌmbəsəm/ also **cum·brous** /-brəs/ *adj* heavy and awkward to carry, wear etc: *a cumbersome parcel/uniform* | (fig.) *the firm's cumbersome salary system*
**Cum·bri·a** /'kʌmbriə/ a COUNTY of northwest England just south of the border with Scotland. It is known for its beautiful scenery and it contains the Lake District NATIONAL PARK. —**brian** *adj*
**cum·in** /'kʌmɪn/ *n* [U] a plant whose pleasant-smelling seeds are used in cooking and medicine
**cum lau·de** /kʊm 'lɔːdi, kʊm-, -'laʊdeɪ/ *adj, adv* [F] Latin with praise; recognition given by some American universities of special achievement: *She graduated cum laude from Harvard.* $\rightarrow$ compare HONOURS MAGNA CUM LAUDE, SUMMA CUM LAUDE; see also DEGREE
**cum·mer·bund** /'kʌməbʌnd/ *n* a broad belt of cloth worn round a man's waist, especially as part of formal evening dress
**cum·mings, e.e.** /'kʌmɪŋz/ (1894–1962) a US poet known for the unusual ways in which he arranged the words and letters in his poems. He always wrote his name in small letters, as e e cummings.
**cum·quat** /'kʌmkwɒt/ *n* KUMQUAT
**cu·mu·la·tive** /'kjuːmjʊlətɪv/ also **accumulative** *adj* increasing steadily in amount or degree by one addition after another: *cumulative interest payable on a debt* | *cumulative damage to the environment* $\rightarrow$ **-ly** *adv*: *Cumulatively, the effects of the drug are disastrous.*
**cu·mu·lus** /'kjuːmjʊləs/ *n* [U] thick white feathery cloud with a flat base $\rightarrow$ compare CIRRUS, NIMBUS
**Cu·nard** /kju:'nɑːd/ *trademark* a company that organizes CRUISES (=journeys by sea for pleasure) in many parts of the world. Its most famous passenger ship is the QM2.
**cu·nei·form** /'kjuːnɪfɔːm, 'kjuːni-fɔːm/ *adj, n* [U] (of or written in) the letters used in writing by the peoples of ancient Mesopotamia. From being drawings of objects and being written from top to bottom, they developed into signs for words and SYLLABLES and began to be written from left to right.
**cun·ni·lin·gus** /ˌkʌnɪ'lɪŋɡəs/ *n* [U] the practice of touching the female sex organs with the lips and tongue in order to give sexual pleasure $\rightarrow$ compare FELLATIO
**cun·ning¹** /'kʌnɪŋ/ *adj* **1** clever in deceiving; SLY: *as cunning as a fox* | *a cunning trick/person* **2** *infml rare, especially AmE* attractive; CUTE: *a cunning little girl* **3** *old use* skilful: *cunning hands* $\rightarrow$ **-ly** *adv*
**cunning²** *n* [U] **1** cleverness in deceiving; GUILE: *She showed considerable cunning in the way she avoided answering the question.* **2** *old use* skill
**Cun·ning·ham, Merce** /'kʌnɪŋəm/ (1922–) an American dancer and CHOREOGRAPHER who started his own dance group in 1953. Many famous dance groups have performed works that he has choreographed.
**Cunningham, Michael** (1952–) a US writer whose novels include *A Home at the End of the World, Flesh and Blood,* and *The Hours*, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1999 and which was also made into a successful film
**cunt** /kʌnt/ *n taboo* **1** VAGINA **2** *slang, especially BrE* a very unpleasant or stupid person
**Cu·o·mo, Mar·i·o** /kwi'əʊməʊ, 'mæriəʊ-/ (1932–) a US politician in the Democratic Party, who was governor of New York from 1983–1994
**cup¹** /kʌp/ *n* **1** [C] a small round container, usually with a handle, from which liquids are drunk, especially hot liquids such as tea or coffee: *a cup and saucer* | *a chipped cup* $\rightarrow$ compare MUG **2** [C] also **cup·ful** /-fʊl/ — **a)** the amount a cup will hold: *Would you like a cup of coffee?* | *two cupfuls of sugar* **b)** an exact measure of quantity used in cooking, equal to 0.3 British pints (0.5 American pints) or 0.28 litres **3** [C] something shaped like a cup: *the cup of a flower* | *bra cups* **4** [C] (a specially shaped usually silver container given as a prize in) a competition, especially in sport: *We won the cup for the first time this year.* | *She's been picked to play in the Wightman Cup.* **5** [C;U] a mixed alcoholic drink: *cider cup* **6** *AmE for* HOLE **7** **in one's cups** *old-fash* drunk **8** **my cup runneth over** *phrase from the Bible* I am extremely happy and contented **9** **one's cup of tea** the sort of thing you like: *Jazz isn't really my cup of tea – I prefer disco music.*
**cup²** *v* **-pp-** [T] to form (the hands) into the shape of a cup: *He cupped his hands and I poured some water into them.* | *She cupped her hands round the mug of hot coffee.*
**Cup, the** *BrE an informal name for the FA CUP*
**cup·board** /'kʌbəd/ *n* a piece of furniture with doors,