On Culture, by Tom Tàbori

cû’lture n., & v . ( kʌltʃər )

• the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.
• that which is excellent in the arts, manners, etc.
• a particular form or stage of civilisation, as that of a certain nation or period: Greek culture.
• development or improvement of the mind by education or training.
• the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group: the youth culture; the drug culture.
• Anthropology . the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another.
• Biology .
• the cultivation of microorganisms, as bacteria, or of tissues, for scientific study, medicinal use, etc.
• the product or growth resulting from such cultivation.
• the act or practice of cultivating the soil; tillage.
• the raising of plants or animals, esp. with a view to their improvement.
• the product or growth resulting from such cultivation.

[Origin: 1400–50; late ME: tilling, place tilled (< AF) < L cultūra. See cult , -ure]