Library / English Dictionary

FOSTER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

United States songwriter whose songs embody the sentiment of the South before the American Civil War (1826-1864)

Synonyms:

Foster; Stephen Collins Foster; Stephen Foster

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Instance hypernyms:

ballad maker; songster; songwriter (a composer of words or music for popular songs)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Providing or receiving nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties

Example:

surrogate father

Synonyms:

foster; surrogate

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

adoptive (of parents and children; related by adoption)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Help develop, help grow

Example:

nurture his talents

Synonyms:

foster; nurture

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "foster" is one way to...):

encourage (inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "foster"):

keep going; patronage; patronise; patronize; support (be a regular customer or client of)

serve; serve well (promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

fosterage; fostering (helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community)

fostering (encouragement; aiding the development of something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Bring up under fosterage; of children

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "foster" is one way to...):

bring up; nurture; parent; raise; rear (look after a child until it is an adult)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Promote the growth of

Example:

Foster our children's well-being and education

Synonyms:

foster; further

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "foster" is one way to...):

advance; boost; encourage; further; promote (contribute to the progress or growth of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

fosterage (encouragement; aiding the development of something)

fostering (helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community)

fostering (encouragement; aiding the development of something)

Credits

 Context examples: 

He has mastered papa's weaknesses, fostered them, and taken advantage of them, until—to say all that I mean in a word, Trotwood,—until papa is afraid of him.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Unrelated persons who are part of the same foster family.

(Foster Relative, NCI Thesaurus)

Some children live in foster families, adoptive families, or in stepfamilies.

(Family Issues, NIH)

AACR also fosters research in cancer and related biomedical sciences and promotes public education, science education and training to advance the understanding of cancer etiology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment worldwide.

(American Association of Cancer Research, NCI Thesaurus)

ASCO sets the standard for cancer care, supports funding for clinical and translational research, fosters the exchange of information related to cancer, including cancer biology, diagnosis, staging, treatment and psychosocial impact.

(American Society of Clinical Oncology, NCI Thesaurus)

The Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center fosters bench-to-bedside research, with programs ranging from basic science research to clinical trials.

(Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, NCI Thesaurus)

The program supports clinical trials and other appropriate research, fosters technological development, and encourages the publication of scientific findings and adoption of early detection practices.

(Early Detection Branch, NCI Thesaurus)

Enhance a bidirectional flow between basic and clinical observations and intervention programs on HIV-related complications and foster interdisciplinary collaborations.

(Pathobiology of Wasting and Growth Retardation, NCI Thesaurus)

Only a few days old, the young honeyguide uses these built-in weapons to kill its foster siblings as soon as they hatch, says Spottiswoode.

(How humans and wild Honeyguide birds call each other to help, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Another aspect happening this month at the new moon is also very rare and will foster warm closeness and inspiration for your emotional life.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)