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

Using a spatula, flip potatoes, keeping as much intact as possible; cook, undisturbed, until browned on other side, about 2 minutes. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025

Christopher's barbecue had pork ribs with a dry rub, baked beans, and potato salad. —Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025

Columbia, like its neighbor Peru, is truly the land of many potatoes, in all colors of the rainbow. —Liza B. Zimmerman, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Gluten-Free Bread Gluten-free bread is typically made with corn, cassava, potato, tapioca, and rice starch. —Lindsey Desoto, Verywell Health, 2 Sep. 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