plant

\ ˈplant

How to pronounce plant (audio)

\

planted; planting; plants

Definition of plant

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to put or set in the ground for growth plant seeds

b : to set or sow with seeds or plants

2a : establish, institute

b : colonize, settle

c : to place (animals) in a new locality

d : to stock with animals

3a : to place in or on the ground

b : to place firmly or forcibly planted a hard blow on his chin

b : to covertly place for discovery, publication, or dissemination

intransitive verb

: to plant something

plant

Definition of plant (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a young tree, vine, shrub, or herb planted or suitable for planting

b : any of a kingdom (Plantae) of multicellular eukaryotic mostly photosynthetic organisms typically lacking locomotive movement or obvious nervous or sensory organs and possessing cellulose cell walls

2a : the land, buildings, machinery, apparatus, and fixtures employed in carrying on a trade or an industrial business

b : a factory or workshop for the manufacture of a particular product also : power plant

c : the total facilities available for production or service

d : the buildings and other physical equipment of an institution

3 : an act of planting

4 : something or someone planted

Other Words from plant Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about plant

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Examples of plant in a Sentence

Verb I planted corn this year. I planted the border with roses. a field planted with corn She planted stakes in the garden to hold the vines. I firmly planted my feet and refused to move. He planted himself in front of the TV and stayed there. Terrorists planted a bomb in the bus station. She claims that the police planted the drugs in her car. He was a spy planted in the office by a rival company. Someone planted a rumor saying that he had died. Noun The gangsters never suspected that he was a police plant. a furniture plant that employs hundreds of people

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb When replanting edibles beds, follow heavy-feeding vegetables like spinach and cabbage with nitrogen-replenishing legumes such as beans, peas, and soybeans; or plant a less-demanding root crop. — Sunset Magazine, "45 Things to Do in Your Garden Right Now," 3 Aug. 2020 Officials maintained that people should not plant any mysterious seeds they are sent and should continue reporting them to law enforcement. — Madison Dibble, Washington Examiner, "USDA officials identify some seeds mysteriously mailed from China," 2 Aug. 2020 At least 300 people in Indiana have received the packets unsolicited, and agriculture officials have warned people not to plant the seeds. — Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, "Those mystery seeds from China? Might be part of a Amazon review scam," 31 July 2020 Ball confirmed that the USDA was investigating, and told residents not to handle or plant the seeds. — CBS News, "Mystery seeds from China are landing in Americans' mail boxes," 28 July 2020 Farmers harvest them from the juiciest, sweetest and most vibrant tomatoes, then save and plant the seeds the next year once the weather is warm. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, The Denver Post, "A timeless tomato tart recipe," 28 July 2020 According to Audubon, prior research has shown that mallards provide such a service to plant seeds, and the researchers wanted to see if fish eggs might also pass through the ducks unscathed. — Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, "Fish Eggs Can Survive a Journey Through Both Ends of a Duck," 2 July 2020 In that survey, significant majorities backed policies that would plant huge numbers of trees, greater restrict power plant emissions, require more fuel-efficient cars and tax corporations based on their emissions. — Steven Mufson, Washington Post, "House Democrats unveil ambitious climate package, steering toward a net-zero economy by 2050," 30 June 2020 The teen’s killing helped plant the seeds of the Black Lives Matter movement. — BostonGlobe.com, "Thousands join in Sunday prayer and protest in front of the White House," 14 June 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Hypoallergenic gentle skin cleansers are formulated with a variety of non-toxic, organic, or plant-derived ingredients. — Sian Babish, chicagotribune.com, "The best hypoallergenic skin cleanser," 12 Aug. 2020 Or create an inexpensive, simple system with water wicking cord that goes from a water bucket to each plant, suggests Cornell University Cooperative Extension. — Arricca Elin Sansone, House Beautiful, "How to Keep Your Plants Alive While You’re on Vacation," 11 Aug. 2020 Tell everyone about your big dream and plant all the seeds but make sure to reciprocate the help. — NBC News, "How Peloton's Robin Arzón went from corporate lawyer to fitness phenom," 11 Aug. 2020 So, with that said, here's how to ensure this festive plant keeps brightening up your home year after year. — The Editors, Good Housekeeping, "How to Care for Your Christmas Cactus so It Will Bloom All Holiday Season Long," 11 Aug. 2020 Line your paths with their brilliant colors and plant enough to fill vases indoors. — Charlotte Germane, Better Homes & Gardens, "How to Grow Beautiful Gerbera Daisies Indoors and Out," 10 Aug. 2020 The white blooms are large and showy on this perennial bulb plant which is a member of the amaryllis family. — Janet Carson, Arkansas Online, "Mystery Plants for the week of August 3," 9 Aug. 2020 Every plant must provide food, shelter or cover to birds, hummingbirds, bees, butterflies or moths. — Kim Palmer, Star Tribune, "Truly Beautiful Gardens: This crop of Minnesota gardeners gives generously," 8 Aug. 2020 Around 90% of plant-eating insects feed on native plants, according to the Indiana Native Plant Society. — Lorena Villanueva-almanza, The Indianapolis Star, "A cheating Olympian: Why honeysuckle does not play fair," 7 Aug. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'plant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near plant

plan position indicator

Statistics for plant

Last Updated

15 Aug 2020

Cite this Entry

“Plant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plant. Accessed 22 Aug. 2020.

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More Definitions for plant

plant

verb

English Language Learners Definition of plant

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to put (a seed, flower, or plant) in the ground to grow

: to fill (an area) with seeds, flowers, or plants

: to put or place (something) in the ground

plant

noun

English Language Learners Definition of plant (Entry 2 of 2)

: a living thing that grows in the ground, usually has leaves or flowers, and needs sun and water to survive

: a building or factory where something is made

US : the land, buildings, and equipment of an organization

See the full definition for plant in the English Language Learners Dictionary

plant

\ ˈplant

\

planted; planting

Kids Definition of plant

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to place in the ground to grow We'll plant seeds in the spring.

2 : to fill with seeds or plants plant a garden

3 : to set firmly in the ground They planted posts for a fence.

4 : to place firmly He planted himself on the couch.

5 : to introduce as a thought or idea

6 : to place (someone or something) secretly … the teacher thought that he was planted in the audience to pep up the discussion …— E. L. Konigsburg, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

plant

Kids Definition of plant (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : any member of the kingdom of many-celled mostly photosynthetic living things (as mosses, ferns, grasses, and trees) that lack a nervous system or sense organs and the ability to move about and that have cellulose cell walls

2 : the buildings and equipment of an industrial business or an institution a power plant

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