What is the meaning of fostering?

noun

• Encouragement; aiding the development of something.
  • synonyms: fosterage
• Helping someone grow up to be an accepted member of the community.
  • usage: "they debated whether nature or nurture was more important"
  • synonyms: breeding, bringing up, fosterage, nurture, raising, rearing, upbringing

verb

• Promote the growth of.
  • usage: "Foster our children's well-being and education"
  • synonyms: foster, further
• Bring up under fosterage; of children.
  • synonyms: foster
• Help develop, help grow.
  • usage: "nurture his talents"
  • synonyms: foster, nurture