potato

[ puh-tey-toh, -tuh ]

noun

, plural po·ta·toes.

1. Also called Irish potato, the edible tuber of a cultivated plant, Solanum tuberosum, of the nightshade family.
2. the plant itself.
3. sweet potato ( defs 1, 2 ).

potato

/ pəˈteɪtəʊ /

noun

1. Also calledIrish potatowhite potato
   1. a solanaceous plant, Solanum tuberosum, of South America: widely cultivated for its edible tubers
   2. the starchy oval tuber of this plant, which has a brown or red skin and is cooked and eaten as a vegetable
2. any of various similar plants, esp the sweet potato
3. hot potato slang.
   a delicate or awkward matter

Word History and Origins

Origin of potato¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Spanish patata “potato,” variant of batata “sweet potato,” from Taíno

Word History and Origins

Origin of potato¹

C16: from Spanish patata white potato, from Taino batata sweet potato

Idioms and Phrases

see hot potato ; meat and potatoes ; small beer (potatoes) .

Example Sentences

There were sweets and potato chips, a treat that had been stored away.

From BBC

By the end of our conversation — during which I may be the only person to touch the potato pancakes being passed around the table — I’m ready to make like a Hallmark heroine, leave the big city behind and take over a struggling Christmas tree farm somewhere in Vermont.

From Los Angeles Times

“Box of Rain,” a tribute to Lesh’s late father that marked the bassist’s first lead vocal on a Grateful Dead record, was the pinnacle of this period, but he also had co-writing credits on “Truckin’,” “Cumberland Blues,” “St. Stephen” and “New Potato Caboose,” all crucial parts of the Dead’s songbook.

From Los Angeles Times

However the World Series goes for the gutsy Dodgers, all those annoying couch potato critics who dissed Dave Roberts during an injury-plagued season need to issue mea culpas, followed by 30 lashes with a wet noodle.

From Los Angeles Times

Guests began to arrive, carrying food with them that they added to the growing buffet table, which was loaded up with cookies, cakes, a fruit-and-veggie tray, a small charcuterie board, and woven baskets of potato chips, Triscuits, and Chex Mix.

From Slate

Related Words

• yam