foster
/ˈfɒstə/verb
To raise and care for a child, especially one who is not yours by birth, or to help something grow and develop.
Example sentences
- “The couple has fostered more than ten children over the years.”
- “Good teachers foster a love of reading in their students.”
In the child-care sense, foster implies temporary care, unlike adoption, which is permanent: foster parents, foster homes, a foster child.