Adjacent Words

Potato definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

POTA'TO, n. A plant and esculent root of the genus Solanum, a native of America. The root of this plant, which is usually called potatoe, constitutes one of the cheapest and most nourishing species of vegetable food; it is the principal food of the poor in some countries, and has often contributed to prevent famine. It was introduced into the British dominions by Sir Walter Raleigh or other adventurers in the 16th century; but is came slowly into use, and at this day is not much cultivated and used in some countries of Europe. In the British dominions and in the United States, it has proved one of the greatest blessings bestowed on man by the Creator.
POT'-BELLIED, a. Having a prominent belly.
POT'-BELLY, n. A protuberant belly.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland [syn: potato, white potato, Irish potato, murphy, spud, tater]
2: annual native to South America having underground stolons bearing edible starchy tubers; widely cultivated as a garden vegetable; vines are poisonous [syn: potato, white potato, white potato vine, Solanum tuberosum]

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural -toes) Usage: often attributive Etymology: Spanish batata, from Taino Date: 1565 1. sweet potato 2. a. an erect South American herb (Solanum tuberosum) of the nightshade family widely cultivated for its edible starchy tuber b. the tuber of a potato — called also Irish potato, spud, white potato

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (pl. -oes) 1 a starchy plant tuber that is cooked and used for food. 2 the plant, Solanum tuberosum, bearing this. 3 colloq. a hole in (esp. the heel of) a sock or stocking. Phrases and idioms: potato chip = CHIP n. 3. potato crisp Brit. = CRISP n. 1. Etymology: Sp. patata var. of Taino batata

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Potato Po*ta"to, n.; pl. Potatoes. [Sp. patata potato, batata sweet potato, from the native American name (probably batata) in Hayti.] (Bot.) (a) A plant (Solanum tuberosum) of the Nightshade family, and its esculent farinaceous tuber, of which there are numerous varieties used for food. It is native of South America, but a form of the species is found native as far north as New Mexico. (b) The sweet potato (see below). Potato beetle, Potato bug. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A beetle (Doryphora decemlineata) which feeds, both in the larval and adult stages, upon the leaves of the potato, often doing great damage. Called also Colorado potato beetle, and Doryphora. See Colorado beetle. (b) The Lema trilineata, a smaller and more slender striped beetle which feeds upon the potato plant, bur does less injury than the preceding species. Potato fly (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of blister beetles infesting the potato vine. The black species (Lytta atrata), the striped (L. vittata), and the gray (L. cinerea, or Fabricii) are the most common. See Blister beetle, under Blister. Potato rot, a disease of the tubers of the potato, supposed to be caused by a kind of mold (Peronospora infestans), which is first seen upon the leaves and stems. Potato weevil (Zo["o]l.), an American weevil (Baridius trinotatus) whose larva lives in and kills the stalks of potato vines, often causing serious damage to the crop. Potato whisky, a strong, fiery liquor, having a hot, smoky taste, and rich in amyl alcohol (fusel oil); it is made from potatoes or potato starch. Potato worm (Zo["o]l.), the large green larva of a sphinx, or hawk moth (Macrosila quinquemaculata); -- called also tomato worm. See Illust. under Tomato. Seaside potato (Bot.), Ipom[oe]a Pes-Capr[ae], a kind of morning-glory with rounded and emarginate or bilobed leaves. [West Indies] Sweet potato (Bot.), a climbing plant (Ipom[oe]a Balatas) allied to the morning-glory. Its farinaceous tubers have a sweetish taste, and are used, when cooked, for food. It is probably a native of Brazil, but is cultivated extensively in the warmer parts of every continent, and even as far north as New Jersey. The name potato was applied to this plant before it was to the Solanum tuberosum, and this is the ``potato'' of the Southern United States. Wild potato. (Bot.) (a) A vine (Ipom[oe]a pandurata) having a pale purplish flower and an enormous root. It is common in sandy places in the United States. (b) A similar tropical American plant (I. fastigiata) which it is thought may have been the original stock of the sweet potato.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(potatoes) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. Potatoes are quite round vegetables with brown or red skins and white insides. They grow under the ground. N-VAR see also sweet potato 2. You can refer to a difficult subject that people disagree on as a hot potato. ...a political hot potato such as abortion. PHRASE: N inflects

Moby Thesaurus

Irish potato, Kraut, aubergine, beans, cabbage, eggplant, greens, legumes, love apple, mad apple, pieplant, potherbs, produce, rhubarb, spud, tater, tomato, vegetables, white potato