curate

Curate is a verb meaning to select, organize, and present items from a collection or across sources for a particular purpose or audience. It is commonly used in museums and galleries to describe assembling an exhibition, and in modern contexts to refer to arranging content—such as playlists, feeds, or articles—for a specific theme.

The noun curator refers to the person responsible for curating, typically at a museum, gallery, or library. Curation is the process or act of curating, and the related adjective curatorial describes duties or methods related to the practice.

Etymology: curate derives from Latin curāre “to take care of,” through French and English usage, and historically referred to caring for a collection or group. In contemporary usage, curating emphasizes intentional selection, context, and the creation of a coherent experience rather than mere accumulation.

Applications span cultural institutions, digital platforms, and consumer media. Examples include curating a museum exhibition, a gallery collection, a digital content library, or a social media feed. The term is widely used beyond museums, often to describe the selective presentation of information or goods for an audience.