English adjective: foster | |||
1. | foster providing or receiving nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties | ||
Samples | Foster parent. Foster child. Foster home. Surrogate father. | ||
Synonyms | surrogate | ||
Similar | adoptive | ||
Antonyms | biological | ||
English noun: Foster | |||
1. | Foster (person) United States songwriter whose songs embody the sentiment of the South before the American Civil War (1826-1864) | ||
Synonyms | Stephen Collins Foster, Stephen Foster | ||
Instance hypernym | ballad maker, songster, songwriter | ||
English verb: foster | |||
1. | foster (social) promote the growth of | ||
Samples | Foster our children's well-being and education. | ||
Synonyms | further | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | advance, boost, encourage, further, promote | ||
2. | foster (social) bring up under fosterage; of children | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | bring up, nurture, parent, raise, rear | ||
3. | foster (communication) help develop, help grow | ||
Samples | Nurture his talents. | ||
Synonyms | nurture | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | encourage | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | keep going, patronage, patronise, patronize, serve, serve well, support | ||