foster Definition

foster
verb fostered, fostering

tr & intr
1. To bring up (a child that is not one's own).

Thesaurus: raise, rear, bring up, care for, nurture, nurse, feed, nourish.
2. To put (a child) into the care of someone who is not its parent, usually for a temporary period of time.
3. To encourage the development of (ideas, feelings, etc).

Thesaurus: promote, support, sustain, cultivate; Antonym: neglect, discourage.
4a. Concerned with or offering fostering;

Example: foster home
4b. In a specified family relationship through fostering rather than by birth. Compare adopt.

Example: foster mother
Example: foster parent
Example: foster brother

Derivative: fosterer
noun

Derivative: fostering
noun

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon fostrian to feed.