foster Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun United States songwriter whose songs embody the sentiment of the South before the American Civil War (1826-1864)
    Stephen Collins Foster; Stephen Foster.
  2. verb promote the growth of
    further.
    • Foster our children's well-being and education
  3. verb bring up under fosterage; of children
  4. verb help develop, help grow
    nurture.
    • nurture his talents
  5. adjective satellite providing or receiving nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties
    surrogate.
    • foster parent
    • foster child
    • foster home
    • surrogate father

WordNet

Fos"ter transitive verb
Etymology
OE. fostren, fr. AS. foster, fostor, food, nourishment, fr. foda food. *75. See Food.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Fostered present participle & verbal noun Fostering
Definitions
  1. To feed; to nourish; to support; to bring up.
    Some say that ravens foster forlorn children. Shak.
  2. To cherish; to promote the growth of; to encourage; to sustain and promote; as, to foster genius.
Fos"ter intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be nourished or trained up together. Obs. Spenser.
Fos"ter adjective
Etymology
AS. foster, fostor, nourishment. See Foster, v. t.
Definitions
  1. Relating to nourishment; affording, receiving, or sharing nourishment or nurture; -- applied to father, mother, child, brother, etc., to indicate that the person so called stands in the relation of parent, child, brother, etc., as regards sustenance and nurture, but not by tie of blood.
Fos"ter noun
Definitions
  1. A forester. Obs. Spenser.
Fos"ter noun
Definitions
  1. One who, or that which, fosters.

Webster 1913