Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense fosters, present participle fostering, past tense, past participle fostered
1.
See foster parent
2. verb
If you foster a child, you take it into your family for a period of time, without becoming its legal parent.
She has since gone on to find happiness by fostering more than 100 children. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: bring up, raise, parent, nurse More Synonyms of foster
3. verb
To foster something such as an activity or idea means to help it to develop.
Developed countries should foster global economic growth to help new democracies. [VERB noun]
Its cash crisis has been fostered by declining property values. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of foster
foster in British English
(ˈfɒstə)
verb(transitive)
1.
to promote the growth or development of
2.
to bring up (a child, etc); rear
3.
to cherish (a plan, hope, etc) in one's mind
4. mainly British
a.
to place (a child) in the care of foster parents
b.
to bring up under fosterage
adjective
5. (in combination)
indicating relationship through fostering and not through birth
foster mother
foster child
6. (in combination)
of or involved in the rearing of a child by persons other than the child's natural or adopted parents
foster home
Derived forms
fosterer (ˈfosterer)
noun
fostering (ˈfostering)
noun
Word origin
Old English fōstrian to feed, from fōstorfood
Foster in British English
(ˈfɒstə)
noun
1.
Arlene (Isabel). born 1970, Northern Irish politician; leader of the Democratic Unionist Party from 2015; first minister of Northern Ireland (2016–17)
2.
Jodie. born 1962, US film actress and director: her films include Taxi Driver (1976), The Accused (1988), The Silence of the Lambs (1990), Little Man Tate (1991; also directed), Nell (1995), and Panic Room (2002)
3.
Norman, Baron. born 1935, British architect. His works include the Willis Faber building (1978) in Ipswich, Stansted Airport, Essex (1991), Chek Lap Kok Airport, Hong Kong (1998), the renovation of the Reichstag, Berlin (1999), and City Hall, London (2002)
4.
Stephen Collins. 1826–64, US composer of songs such as The Old Folks at Home and Oh Susanna
Foster in American English
(ˈfɔstər; ˈfɑstər)
1.
Stephen Collins1826-64; U.S. composer of songs
2.
William Z(ebulon)1881-1964; U.S. Communist Party leader
foster in American English
(ˈfɔstər; ˈfɑstər)
verb transitive
1.
to bring up with care; rear
2.
to help to grow or develop; stimulate; promote
to foster discontent
3.
to cling to in one's mind; cherish
foster a hope
adjective
4.
having the standing of a specified member of the family, though not by birth or adoption, and giving,receiving, or sharing the care appropriate to that standing
foster parent, foster brother
5.
designating or relating to such care
Derived forms
fosterer (ˈfosterer)
noun
Word origin
ME fostren < OE fostrian, to nourish, bring up < fostor, food, nourishment < base of foda, food
Examples of 'foster' in a sentence
foster
They will stay at the centre while homes are found with foster carers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Our clients are business owners and senior executives who understand the value of time spent on the golf course fostering relationships and discussing deals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Similar background to myself and I admire him being a foster parent too.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Weak government damages growth by fostering uncertainty.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
So we applied to become foster parents and were accepted by the local social services department.
Jan Fennell FRIENDS FOR LIFE (2003)
His foster mother showed me mobile phone video clips of his early days with her family.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The youngster grew up in a series of foster homes and boarding schools.
The Sun (2011)
They thought that foster care would lead to adoption.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This should foster new growth and flowers.
The Sun (2007)
They help combat nuclear proliferation and foster growth and stability.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The other lesson learnt was that it is the foster carers themselves who are the best recruitment source.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He will have responsibility for structural reforms, bank regulation and economic policy that fosters growth.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
foster
British English: foster /ˈfɒstə/ VERB
If you foster a child, you take him or her into your family as a foster child.
American English: foster
Arabic: يَتَبَنَّى يتبنى
Brazilian Portuguese: criar o filho de alguém
Chinese: 养育
Croatian: njegovati
Czech: vzít do opatrování
Danish: opfostre
Dutch: in het gezin opnemen
European Spanish: colocar en una familia de acogida
Finnish: kasvattaa kasvattilasta
French: prendre en placement
German: ein Kind in Pflege nehmen
Greek: ανατρέφω
Italian: prendere in affidamento
Japanese: 養育する
Korean: 위탁 양육하다
Norwegian: fostre
Polish: wychować
European Portuguese: criar o filho de alguém
Romanian: a adopta
Russian: воспитывать
Latin American Spanish: colocar en una familia de acogida
Swedish: fostra
Thai: เลี้ยงดูเด็ก
Turkish: koruyucu aile olmak
Ukrainian: всиновлювати
Vietnamese: nuôi dưỡng
British English: foster ADJECTIVE
Foster parents are people who officially take a child into their family for a period of time, without becoming the child's legal parents.
The child was placed with foster parents.
American English: foster
Brazilian Portuguese: adotivo
Chinese: 收养的
European Spanish: de acogida
French: d'accueil
German: Pflege-
Italian: affidatario
Japanese: 里親の
Korean: > 맡아 기르는일정 기간 동안
European Portuguese: adotivo
Latin American Spanish: de acogida
All related terms of 'foster'
foster care
the raising or supervision of foster children in an institution , group home , or private home, usually arranged through a government or social-service agency that provides remuneration for expenses
foster home
the home of a person who fosters a child or animal
foster child
a child looked after temporarily or brought up by people other than its natural or adoptive parents
foster family
A family is a group of people who are related to each other, especially parents and their children.
foster father
a man who looks after or brings up a child or children as a father , in place of the natural or adoptive father
foster mother
a woman who looks after or brings up a child or children as a mother , in place of the natural or adoptive mother
foster parent
Foster parents are people who officially take a child into their family for a period of time, without becoming the child's legal parents. The child is referred to as their foster child.
foster brother
a boy brought up with another child of different parents
foster daughter
a girl raised like one's own daughter , though not such by birth or adoption
nursing father
a man who looks after or brings up a child or children as a father , in place of the natural or adoptive father
Chinese translation of 'foster'
foster
(ˈfɔstəʳ)
vt
[child]领(領)养(養) (lǐngyǎng)
[idea, activity, feeling]培养(養) (péiyǎng)
cpd
[parent, mother, child]寄养(養) (jìyǎng)
1 (verb)
Definition
to bring up (a child not one's own)
She has fostered more than 100 children.
Synonyms
bring up
raise
the house where she was raised
parent
nurse
All the years he was sick my mother had nursed him.
look after
rear
I was reared in east Texas.
care for
take care of
nurture
Parents want to know the best way to nurture and raise their children to adulthood.
2 (verb)
Definition
to promote the growth or development of
They are keen to foster trading links with the West.
Synonyms
develop
support
He supported the hardworking people.
further
Education needn't only be about furthering your career.
encourage
Their task is to encourage private investment in Russia.
feed
Wealth is feeding our obsession with house prices.
promote
His country will do everything possible to promote peace.
stimulate
uphold
upholding the artist's right to creative freedom
nurture
Seema's interest in literature was nurtured by her parents.
cultivate
She went out of her way to cultivate his friendship.
foment
They accused strike leaders of fomenting violence.
Opposites
oppose
,
resist
, combat,
curb
,
suppress
,
restrain
,
inhibit
,
subdue
,
withstand
,
curtail
,
hold out against
3 (verb)
She fostered a fierce ambition.
Synonyms
cherish
She cherished an ambition to be an actor.
sustain
I am sustained by letters of support.
entertain
I wouldn't entertain the idea of doing such a job.
harbour
He harboured a grudge against his superior.
accommodate
Students are accommodated in homes nearby.
nourish
They continued to nourish hopes of victory.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of accommodate
Definition
to provide with lodgings
Students are accommodated in homes nearby.
Synonyms
house,
put up,
take in,
lodge,
board,
quarter,
shelter,
entertain,
harbour,
cater for,
billet
in the sense of cultivate
Definition
to develop or improve (something) by giving special attention to it
She went out of her way to cultivate his friendship.
Synonyms
foster,
further,
forward,
encourage
in the sense of encourage
Definition
to stimulate (something or someone) by approval or help
Their task is to encourage private investment in Russia.