- promoted or cultivated: We need to cut through the deliberately fostered confusions that persist in the debate surrounding the referendum campaign.The two-acre garden displays six species of its independently fostered roses.
- cared for as a foster child in the home of someone other than the natural or adoptive parents: In that jurisdiction, 17 percent of all fostered children aged 5 to 18 had been in the same placement for more than five years.
- (of animals)
- cared for temporarily as a pet in a home until adoption can be arranged, often because medical care is required: Once recovered, the fostered dogs had a better chance of being adopted than healthy ones straight from the shelter.
- raised by other than its own biological parents: Two male penguins entrusted with the care of a fostered egg have welcomed a tiny penguin chick into the world.
- the simple past tense and past participle of foster.
