pot
pot
Pot (noun) means a round container, usually with a handle, used for cooking or holding things such as plants. Example: “She put the pot of soup on the stove to simmer.”
noun
1
A round container, usually with a handle, used for cooking or holding things such as plants.
"She put the pot of soup on the stove to simmer."
"He repotted the tomato plant into a bigger pot."
"My grandmother kept a big copper pot on the shelf above the cooker."
2
(slang) Marijuana.
"They got caught smoking pot in the park."
verb
1
To plant something in a pot.
"She potted the herbs on the windowsill."
"Next weekend we will pot the young seedlings and keep them indoors."
"Please pot the cactus carefully so you do not prick your fingers."
2
(billiards/snooker) To hit a ball into a pocket.
"He potted the black to win the frame."
"She leaned over the table and potted the red ball with ease."
"If you pot the yellow now, you will lead by ten points."
How to use pot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA round cooking or plant container — or, in slang, marijuana.
Common pairings
cooking pot
flower pot
pot plant
smoke pot
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Word forms
- Plural
- pots
- Third person singular
- pots
- Past tense
- potted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She put the _____ of soup on the stove to simmer.
Etymology
From Old English pott and Old French pot, both likely traced back to a Frankish word for a container, ultimately from a very old root meaning 'vessel.' The slang sense for marijuana is unrelated and probably comes from Mexican Spanish potiguaya.
Related words
Rhymes for pot
See all rhymes for pot →Frequently asked questions
What does “pot” mean?
The word “pot” means a round container, usually with a handle, used for cooking or holding things such as plants. In plain terms, a round cooking or plant container — or, in slang, marijuana.
How do you pronounce “pot”?
“Pot” is pronounced pot (/pɑt/ in IPA).
How do you use “pot” in a sentence?
Here is “pot” used in a sentence: “She put the pot of soup on the stove to simmer.”
What part of speech is “pot”?
Depending on how it is used, “pot” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pot” come from?
The word “pot” comes from Old French.
Is “pot” a common word?
“Pot” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “pot” have?
“Pot” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a round container, usually with a handle, used for cooking or holding things such as plants.
What is the difference between a pot and a pan?
A pot is deep and round, usually with two small handles, and is used for boiling, stewing, or simmering larger amounts of liquid. A pan is shallower and wider, typically with one long handle, and is used for frying, searing, or sautéing where quick, even heat matters.
What are the main types of pots?
In the kitchen you find stockpots, saucepans, and Dutch ovens for cooking. Beyond cooking, the word covers flowerpots and plant pots for growing, coffee pots and teapots for serving drinks, and general storage pots for holding odds and ends. The shared trait is a round, container shape.
What is an example of a pot?
A large metal cooking pot used to boil pasta or make soup is a classic example. So is a clay flowerpot holding a houseplant on a windowsill. Both share the defining features of the word: a round container, often with a handle, made to cook food or hold something.
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