What does "potato" mean?
A plant of species Solanum tuberosum or its edible starchy tuber.
Potato
/pəˈteɪ.təʊ/ intj, noun, verb, slang
intj, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A plant of species Solanum tuberosum or its edible starchy tuber.
- Grammar: potato is listed as intj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: murphy, solanum tuberosum, spud, aubergine.
- Useful contrasts: active person, go-getter, inedible.
- Usage evidence: I like cold potato salad in the summertime.
How to use "potato"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "potato" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "potato" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "potato" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "potato" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "potato" is acting as intj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "murphy" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "potato", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A plant of species Solanum tuberosum or its edible starchy tuber. countable, uncountable
"Do not let your child have potato for another year; he will probably take milk well enough after he is weaned."
- 2 an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland wordnet
- 3 A sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) countable, obsolete, uncountable
- 4 annual native to South America having underground stolons bearing edible starchy tubers; widely cultivated as a garden vegetable; vines are poisonous wordnet
- 5 A conspicuous hole in a sock or stocking. UK, countable, informal, uncountable
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 A person or animal shaped like a potato, that is, with a large belly and/or short legs. countable, uncountable
- 7 Metaphor for a person or thing of little value. countable, uncountable
"I don't value Monſieur de Champignon a rotten potatoe; […]"
- 8 Metaphor for a person or thing of little value.; A mentally handicapped person. countable, offensive, slang, uncountable
- 9 Metaphor for a person or thing of little value.; A camera that takes poor-quality pictures or videos. countable, humorous, uncountable
- 10 Metaphor for a person or thing of little value.; An underpowered computer or other device, especially when small in size. countable, humorous, slang, uncountable
"When most people refer to their computers as a potato they're being hyperbolic, but not Ethan. He plays Overwatch at 800x600 resolution with all settings on low and is excited when he gets 30 fps."
Verb
- 1 To hit very hard; to pummel. slang, transitive
"Bradshaw doesn't find much humour in it though, and beats the tar out of Dustin, potatoing him with every blow."
- 2 To hit with a thrown or fired potato. transitive
"Yvonne and Lee Swee potatoed Deputy Lestrade multiple times before Sheriff Moran potatoed them both. […] Suddenly, Sheriff Moran heard the click click of an empty weapon. He turned to see that both Mayor Eliza and Kat had run out of ammunition."
Intj
- 1 The rhythmic sound produced by a V-twin engine—a distinctive deep, throaty exhaust note. often, onomatopoeic, repeated
Example
"I like cold potato salad in the summertime."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "potato"?
Common synonyms include: murphy, solanum tuberosum, spud, aubergine, bean, beans.
How do you use "potato" in a sentence?
I like cold potato salad in the summertime.
How do you pronounce "potato"?
Pronounced /pəˈteɪ.təʊ/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish patata, itself borrowed from Taíno batata (“sweet potato”).