expression, godan verb (-ku)
open up unbroken land; cultivate wasteland
Used for the pioneering act of clearing and developing wild or abandoned land for agriculture or settlement.
開拓者たちは荒れ地を拓いて農場を作った。
The pioneers opened up the wasteland and built a farm.
Compound of 荒れ地 (wasteland) + を (object marker) + 拓く (to open up, cultivate).