Curate: meaning, definitions and examples
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curate
[ ˈkjʊəreɪt ]
museum exhibition
To curate means to select, organize, and present items in a collection, such as an art exhibition, in a way that is aesthetically pleasing and intellectually stimulating. Curators often have expertise in a particular field and are responsible for choosing which pieces to display and how to arrange them.
Synonyms
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| curate |
Generally used in situations where someone is carefully choosing and organizing items or content, often for an art gallery, a museum, or a collection, emphasizing the thoughtfulness and expertise in the selection.
|
| organize |
Applied in contexts where someone is making plans or putting things in order, often to improve efficiency, tidiness, or accessibility. This can relate to physical items, events, or even abstract concepts like data or thoughts.
|
| select |
Used when someone is choosing or picking items, often from a larger group, with a focus on the act of choosing rather than arranging or organizing those items afterward.
|
| arrange |
Used when talking about putting things in a particular order or position. This can apply to physical items, events, or schedules and generally implies a practical and often systematic approach.
|
Examples of usage
- The museum curator worked tirelessly to curate the new art exhibit.
- She was asked to curate a selection of rare books for the library's special collection.
Translations
Translations of the word "curate" in other languages:
🇵🇹 curar
🇮🇳 संयोजित करना
🇩🇪 kuratieren
🇮🇩 mengurasi
🇺🇦 курувати
🇵🇱 kuratorować
🇯🇵 キュレートする
🇫🇷 curer
🇪🇸 curar
🇹🇷 küratörlük yapmak
🇰🇷 큐레이트하다
🇸🇦 إعداد
🇨🇿 kurátorovat
🇸🇰 kurátorovať
🇨🇳 策划
🇸🇮 kurirati
🇮🇸 stjórna
🇰🇿 курировать
🇬🇪 კურატორობა
🇦🇿 kuratorluq etmək
🇲🇽 curar
Etymology
The word 'curate' comes from the Latin word 'curare', which means 'to take care of'. Originally used in religious contexts to refer to the care of souls, it later evolved to mean the care and management of collections, such as art or artifacts. The modern usage of 'curate' in the context of selecting and organizing items for an exhibition emerged in the 20th century.