potato

noun

po·​ta·​to pə-ˈtā-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce potato (audio)
-tə,
 dialectal  pə-ˈdā-,
bə- How to pronounce potato (audio)
plural potatoes
often attributive
1
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

Illustration of potato

Illustration of potato
  • potato 2a

Examples of potato in a Sentence

She's growing carrots and potatoes in her garden this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Mix the brown sugar, pecans, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a bowl, then sprinkle over the potatoes. Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 20 Nov. 2024 Add potatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender when pierced with a fork, about 16 minutes. Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024 Macy even helps grow potatoes locally for Woody Creek’s vodka and gin, which are well worth a try. Tiney Ricciardi, The Denver Post, 19 Nov. 2024 Last year, my biggest stressor was whether the person who agreed to bring the mashed potatoes would flake at the last minute. Rebecca Jennings, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for potato 

Word History

Etymology

Spanish batata, from Taino

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of potato was in 1565

Dictionary Entries Near potato

Cite this Entry

“Potato.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potato. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

potato

noun
po·​ta·​to pə-ˈtāt-ō How to pronounce potato (audio) pət-ˈāt- How to pronounce potato (audio)
plural potatoes
1
2
a
: an erect South American herb widely cultivated for its thick starchy edible underground tubers
b
: one of these edible tubers

called also Irish potato, spud, white potato

More from Merriam-Webster on potato

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!