civilize
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Related to civilize: civilised
civ·i·lize
(sĭv′ə-līz′)tr.v. civ·i·lized, civ·i·liz·ing, civ·i·liz·es
1. To raise from barbarism to an enlightened stage of development; bring out of a primitive or savage state.
2. To educate in matters of culture and refinement; make more polished or sophisticated.
civ′i·liz′a·ble adj.
civ′i·liz′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
civilize
(ˈsɪvɪˌlaɪz) orcivilise
vb (tr)
1. to bring out of savagery or barbarism into a state characteristic of civilization
2. to refine, educate, or enlighten
ˈciviˌlizable, ˈciviˌlisable adj
ˈciviˌlizer, ˈciviˌliser n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
civ•i•lize
(ˈsɪv əˌlaɪz)v.t. -lized, -liz•ing.
to bring out of a savage, uneducated, or rude state; make civil; enlighten; refine: Rome civilized the barbarians.
[1595–1605; < French civiliser]
civ′i•liz`er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
civilize
Past participle: civilized
Gerund: civilizing
| Imperative |
|---|
| civilize |
| civilize |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Verb | 1. | civilize - teach or refine to be discriminative in taste or judgment; "Cultivate your musical taste"; "Train your tastebuds"; "She is well schooled in poetry" fine-tune, refine, polish, down - improve or perfect by pruning or polishing; "refine one's style of writing" sophisticate - make less natural or innocent; "Their manners had sophisticated the young girls" |
| 2. | civilize - raise from a barbaric to a civilized state; "The wild child found wandering in the forest was gradually civilized" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
civilize
verb cultivate, improve, polish, educate, refine, tame, enlighten, humanize, sophisticate The missionaries exacted a heavy price in labour from the natives they presumed to enlighten and civilize.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
civilize
verbTo fit for companionship with others, especially in attitude or manners:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
civilizovat
civilisereopdrage
civilizál
civilizacijacivilizuotikultūrinti
civilizēt
civilizovať
medenileştirmekuygarlaştırmak
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
civilize
vt → zivilisieren; person also → Kultur beibringen (+dat)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
civilize,
civilise
(ˈsivilaiz) verb to change the ways of (a primitive people) to those found in a more advanced type of society. The Romans tried to civilize the ancient Britons.
ˌciviliˈzation, ˌciviliˈsation noun1. the act of civilizing, or process or state of being civilized.
2. a civilized people and their way of life. the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Greece.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.