1. Encouragement; aiding the development of something
   "The company's fostering of innovation led to numerous patents";
   - fosterage
    
2. Helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community
   "they debated whether nature or fostering was more important";
   - breeding, bringing up, fosterage, nurture, raising, rearing, upbringing

1. Help develop, help grow
   "foster his talents";
   - nurture
    
2. Bring up under fosterage; of children
   "The couple decided to foster several children in need of a home"

Derived forms: fosterings

Type of: acculturation, bring up, encourage, encouragement, enculturation, nurture, parent, raise, rear, socialisation [Brit], socialization

Encyclopedia: Fostering