civ·i·lize

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• civ|i|lize — «SIHV uh lyz», transitive verb, lized, liz|ing. 1. to change from being savage and ignorant to having good laws and customs and knowledge of the arts and sciences; train in culture, science, and art: »The Romans civilized a great part of the… …   Useful english dictionary

• de|civ|i|lize — «dee SIHV uh lyz», transitive verb, lized, liz|ing. to reduce or degrade from a civilized condition …   Useful english dictionary

• civ — civ; civ·et; civ·e·tone; civ·ic; civ·i·cal·ly; civ·i·cism; civ·i·cize; civ·ics; civ·il; civ·i·lise; civ·i·list; civ·i·liz·a·ble; civ·i·li·za·tion; civ·i·li·za·tion·al; civ·i·liz·a·to·ry; civ·i·lize; civ·i·liz·ee; civ·i·liz·er; civ·il·ly; civ·ism; …   English syllables

• civ´i|liz´er — civ|i|lize «SIHV uh lyz», transitive verb, lized, liz|ing. 1. to change from being savage and ignorant to having good laws and customs and knowledge of the arts and sciences; train in culture, science, and art: »The Romans civilized a great part… …   Useful english dictionary

• civ´i|liz´a|ble — civ|i|lize «SIHV uh lyz», transitive verb, lized, liz|ing. 1. to change from being savage and ignorant to having good laws and customs and knowledge of the arts and sciences; train in culture, science, and art: »The Romans civilized a great part… …   Useful english dictionary

• lize — al·ka·lize; anab·o·lize; ben·zo·lize; can·a·lize; can·nu·lize; car·bo·lize; ca·tab·o·lize; civ·i·lize; crys·tal·lize; di·ab·o·lize; em·bo·lize; eno·lize; epis·to·lize; ep·i·the·lize; evan·ge·lize; fab·u·lize; fac·sim·i·lize; fis·tu·lize;… …   English syllables

• civilize — civ·i·lize …   English syllables

• civilize — civ•i•lize [[t]ˈsɪv əˌlaɪz[/t]] v. t. lized, liz•ing to bring out of a savage, uneducated, or rude state; make civil; enlighten; refine: Rome civilized the barbarians[/ex] • Etymology: 1595–1605; < F civiliser civ′i•liz er, n …   From formal English to slang

• civilize — civ|i|lize also civilise BrE [ˈsıvəl aız] v [T] 1.) to influence someone s behaviour, making or teaching them to act in a more sensible or gentle way ▪ Andrea was a great civilizing influence on her husband. 2.) to improve a society so that it is …   Dictionary of contemporary English

• civilize — civ|i|lize [ sıvı,laız ] verb transitive 1. ) to make someone behave in a more polite and reasonable way 2. ) OLD FASHIONED to help a society to develop its culture and institutions …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English