First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1plant
verb \ˈplant\
: to put (a seed, flower, or plant) in the ground to grow
: to fill (an area) with seeds, flowers, or plants
: to put or place (something) in the ground
Full Definition of PLANT
transitive verb
1
2
3
a : to place in or on the ground b : to place firmly or forcibly <planted a hard blow on his chin>
4
a : conceal b : to covertly place for discovery, publication, or dissemination
intransitive verb
: to plant something
— plant·able \ˈplan-tə-bəl\ adjective
See plant defined for English-language learners
See plant defined for kids
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Origin of PLANT
Middle English, from Old English plantian, from Late Latin plantare to plant, fix in place, from Latin, to plant, from planta plant
2plant
noun
: a living thing that grows in the ground, usually has leaves or flowers, and needs sun and water to survive
: a building or factory where something is made
: the land, buildings, and equipment of an organization
Full Definition of PLANT
1
2
a : the land, buildings, machinery, apparatus, and fixtures employed in carrying on a trade or an industrial business b : a factory or workshop for the manufacture of a particular product; also : power plant c : the total facilities available for production or service d : the buildings and other physical equipment of an institution
3
: an act of planting
4
: something or someone planted
— plant·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective
See plant defined for English-language learners
Origin of PLANT
Middle English plante, from Old English, from Latin planta
First Known Use: before 12th century
Other Botany Terms
PLANT[2] Defined for Kids
1plant
verb \ˈplant\
plant·edplant·ing
Definition of PLANT for Kids
1
: to place in the ground to grow <We'll plant seeds in the spring.>
2
: to fill with seeds or plants <plant a garden>
3
: to set firmly in the ground <They planted posts for a fence.>
4
: to place firmly <He planted himself on the couch.>
5
: to introduce as a thought or idea
6
: to place (someone or something) secretly <… the teacher thought that he was planted in the audience to pep up the discussion … — E. L. Konigsburg, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler>
2plant
noun
Definition of PLANT for Kids
1
: any member of the kingdom of many-celled mostly photosynthetic living things (as mosses, ferns, grasses, and trees) that lack a nervous system or sense organs and the ability to move about and that have cellulose cell walls
2
: the buildings and equipment of an industrial business or an institution <a power plant>
— plant·like \ˈplant-ˌlīk\ adjective
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