plant

A plant is a living organism with multiple cells that produce its food through photosynthesis.

Facts About Plants

  • Plants are 90% water, while the percentage of water in animals goes as low as 75%.
  • The amount of water needed by a plant depends on its type, how much light it gets, and how old the plant is.
  • The reason plants wilt when they are not watered properly is because of a reduction in their turgor, the water pressure inside the cells that make up the plants’ skeletons.
  • Plants exchange water for carbon dioxide to make food.
  • Some plants curl up their leaves in the winter to limit the amount of leaf surface exposed to drying winds, which limits evaporation and keeps the plant hydrated.
  • Plants that grow in the snow include: evergreens, Chinese juniper and oleaster (often called the Russian Olive).
(noun)

An example of a plant is a flower or vegetable.

The definition of a plant is a factory.

(noun)

An example of plant is where running shoes are produced.

A plant is a person who has been secretly placed into a situation in order to report back to someone.

(noun)

An example of plant is an undercover FBI agent acting as a drug dealer.

Plant means to put something in the ground.

(verb)

An example of plant is putting a zucchini seedling in soil.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See plant in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. any of a kingdom (Plantae) of eukaryotes generally characterized by the ability to carry on photosynthesis in its cells which contain chloroplasts and have cellulose in the cell wall, including all thallophytes and embryophytes
  2. a young tree, shrub, or herb, ready to put into other soil for growth to maturity; a slip, cutting, or set
  3. an herb, as distinguished from a tree or shrub
  4. the tools, machinery, buildings, grounds, etc. of a factory or business
  5. the equipment, buildings, etc. of any institution, as a hospital, school, etc.
  6. the apparatus or equipment for some particular mechanical operation or process: the power plant of a ship
  7. Slang a person placed, or thing planned or used, to trick, mislead, or trap

Origin: ME plante < OE < L planta, sprout, twig, prob. back-form. < plantare, to smooth the soil for planting < planta, sole of the foot < IE *plat-, var. of base *pla-, broad, flat > plain

transitive verb

    1. to put into soil, esp. into the ground, to grow
    2. to set plants in (a piece of ground)
  1. to set firmly as into the ground; fix in position
  2. to fix in the mind; implant (an idea, etc.)
  3. to settle (a colony, colonists, etc.); found; establish
  4. to furnish or stock with animals
  5. ☆ to put a stock of (oysters, young fish, etc.) in a body of water
  6. Slang to deliver (a punch, blow, etc.) with force
  7. Slang
    1. to place (a person or thing) in such a way as to trick, trap, etc.
    2. to place (an ostensible news item) in a newspaper, etc. with some ulterior motive, as in order to mold public opinion
  8. Slang
    1. to hide or conceal
    2. to place (something) surreptitiously where it is certain to be found or discovered

Origin: ME planten < OE plantian & OFr planter, both < L plantare < the n.

Related Forms:

See plant in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Botany
    a. Any of various photosynthetic, eukaryotic, multicellular organisms of the kingdom Plantae characteristically producing embryos, containing chloroplasts, having cellulose cell walls, and lacking the power of locomotion.
    b. A plant having no permanent woody stem; an herb.
  2. a. A building or group of buildings for the manufacture of a product; a factory.
    b. The equipment, including machinery, tools, instruments, and fixtures and the buildings containing them, necessary for an industrial or manufacturing operation.
  3. The buildings, equipment, and fixtures of an institution: the entire plant of a university.
  4. A person or thing put into place in order to mislead or function secretly, especially:
    a. A person placed in a group of spectators to influence behavior.
    b. A person stationed in a given location as a spy or observer.
    c. A misleading piece of evidence placed so as to be discovered.
    d. A remark or action in a play or narrative that becomes important later.
  5. Slang A scheming trick; a swindle.
transitive verb plant·ed, plant·ing, plants
  1. a. To place or set (seeds, for example) in the ground to grow.
    b. To place seeds or young plants in (land); sow: plant a field in corn.
  2. a. To place (spawn or young fish) in water or an underwater bed for cultivation: plant oysters.
    b. To stock with spawn or fish.
  3. To introduce (an animal) into an area.
  4. To set firmly in position; fix: planted both feet on the ground.
  5. To establish; found: plant a colony.
  6. To fix firmly in the mind; implant: “The right of revolution is planted in the heart of man” (Clarence Darrow).
  7. a. To station (a person) for the purpose of functioning in secret, as by observing, spying, or influencing behavior: Detectives were planted all over the store.
    b. To place secretly or deceptively so as to be discovered or made public: planted a gun on the corpse to make the death look like suicide.
  8. To conceal; hide: planted the stolen goods in the warehouse.
  9. Slang To deliver (a blow or punch).

Origin:

Origin: Middle English plante

Origin: , from Old English

Origin: and Old French

Origin: , both from Latin planta, sprout, seedling; see plat- in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • plantˈa·ble adjective

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