potato

noun

po·​ta·​to pə-ˈtā-(ˌ)tō 

-tə,

 dialectal  pə-ˈdā-,

bə- 

plural potatoes

often attributive

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

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

Smoky and savory, our Cowboy Pot Roast is equally at home served over mashed potatoes, grits, or rice. —Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025

Dump the potatoes into a large pot, add cold water to 2 inches above the top of the potatoes, and season the water with salt. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Oct. 2025

An employee threw the potato strips in the garbage. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2025

Continue down the road toward Valldemossa, stopping in the town for a late-afternoon treat named coca de patata, a soft bun made with potato flour, from Ca’n Molinas. —Emilio Parra Doiztua, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish batata, from Taino

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing potato

• Colorado potato beetle
• couch potato
• fingerling potato
• hot potato
• Irish potato
• jacket potato
• mouse potato
• new potato
• potato beetle
• potato blight
• potato bug
• potato chip
• potato crisp
• potato leafhopper
• potato pancake
• potato tuberworm
• seed potato
• small potato
• sweet potato
• white potato

Rhymes for potato

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo

Kids Definition

potato

noun

po·​ta·​to pə-ˈtāt-ō  pət-ˈāt- 

plural potatoes

1

: sweet potato sense 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