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.
Rub 1 teaspoon oil over each potato; sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt evenly over each potato. Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2024 Crispy potatoes are topped with barbecue sauce, cheese, peppers, and sour cream. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Dec. 2024 Great choices include carrots, parsnips, potato wedges, asparagus, and broccoli. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 12 Dec. 2024 Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes are a staple food for centenarians living in Blue Zones, especially those in Okinawa, Japan. Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 11 Dec. 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 23 Dec. 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
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