potato

noun, often attributive po·ta·to \ pə-ˈtā-(ˌ)tō , -tə , dialectal pə-ˈdā- , bə- \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of potato

plural potatoes

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

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See potato defined for kids

Examples of potato in a Sentence

She's growing carrots and potatoes in her garden this year.

Recent Examples of potato from the Web

Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

— aleksandra crapanzano, WSJ, "Soup Yourself: Recipes Right for This Season," 19 Apr. 2018
Giselle and Angel then tackled turning sweet potatoes into wedges — a challenging task given that the potatoes were hard as rocks.

— nancy smith, Philly.com, "Challenging salmon cake recipe required math, teamwork," 12 Apr. 2018
Bake until potatoes are soft and chicken is cooked through, 35 to 40 minutes.

— charlyne mattox, Country Living, "Chicken Legs with Peas, Artichokes, Mint, and Fingerling Potatoes," 12 Apr. 2018
Despite its ominous name, funeral potatoes are hardly malevolent.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "Walmart Has Started Selling Funeral Potatoes and the Internet is Losing It," 4 Apr. 2018
Cover and cook as manufacturer directs on low setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours, until potatoes are very tender.

— daniel neman, sacbee, "Spread joy: Cook with peanut butter | The Sacramento Bee," 3 Apr. 2018
Red potatoes are among the varieties distributed by Potandon Produce of Idaho Falls.

— john sowell, idahostatesman, "You know the russet, Idaho’s Goliath potato. Meet its colorful David challengers. | Idaho Statesman," 31 Mar. 2018
Using fingers and a spoon, while the potatoes are still warm, scoop out insides into a large mixing bowl.

— nancy miller, The Courier-Journal, "Irish eyes will smile when you try this smoked salmon and potato gratin recipe," 13 Mar. 2018
Stir gently to combine, bring to a low boil and cook for about 15 minutes until potatoes are tender but not mushy.

— Fox News, "Perfect Recipes for a Playoff Party," 20 Jan. 2018

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

Illustration of potato

Origin and Etymology of potato

Spanish batata, from Taino

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1565

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

POTATO Defined for Kids

potato

noun po·ta·to \ pə-ˈtā-tō \

Definition of potato for Students

plural potatoes

: the thick edible usually rounded underground tuber of a widely grown South American plant that is eaten as a vegetable

Learn More about potato

See words that rhyme with potato Spanish Central: Translation of potato Nglish: Translation of potato for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of potato for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about potato

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potato

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