agriculture

agriculture — noun

1. the work and field of knowledge of growing crops and keeping animals, especially

1.nounB2
Definition

the work and field of knowledge of growing crops and keeping animals, especially for food.

Example

Many families in central Taiwan still depend on agriculture for their income.

depend on agriculture for income

New machines changed agriculture in Iowa by cutting the need for workers.

agriculture in [place]

Synonyms
  • farming

    the everyday word, especially for the practical work done on farms

  • cultivation

    narrower and often focused on preparing land or growing plants

  • agronomy

    a technical word for the scientific study of crops and soil

Grammar Patterns

study agriculture

work in agriculture

depend on agriculture

Usage Note

Usually uncountable. 'Agriculture' often names the whole activity, sector, or subject of study, while 'farming' more often refers to the daily practical work on a farm.

Common Mistakes

My uncle does agricultures in Tainan.
My uncle works in agriculture in Tainan.
'agriculture' is uncountable and is not normally made plural.
She studies about agriculture at college.
She studies agriculture at college.
after 'study', the subject usually comes directly without 'about'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Agriculture' is the broadest of these words. It can mean the whole activity of growing crops and keeping animals, and it also covers the school subject, the business sector, and government policy connected with farming. 'Farming' is more everyday and usually points to the practical work done on a farm. 'Cultivation' is narrower: it often describes preparing land or helping plants grow well, rather than the whole food-production system. 'Agronomy' is the most technical word and belongs mainly to science, especially the study of crops and soil. For example, a student can study agriculture at university, a family can make a living from farming, a gardener can improve soil cultivation, and a researcher can publish work in agronomy.

agriculture ↗farming ↗cultivationagronomy

Common collocations

Nouns

  • modern agriculture
  • local agriculture
  • agriculture policy
  • agriculture sector

Phrases

  • study agriculture
  • work in agriculture
  • depend on agriculture
  • support local agriculture

Prepositions

  • in agriculture
  • into agriculture
  • from agriculture

Etymology

LatinEnglish

English borrowed this word from Latin. It comes from 'agricultura', formed from 'ager', meaning 'field' or 'land', and 'cultura', meaning 'growing' or 'care'. From the start, the word has been connected with working the land and raising what people need from it.