plant pot

IPA/ˈplɑːnt ˌpɒt/
IPA/ˈplænt ˌpɑːt/

plant pot — noun

  • plant potsingular
  • plant potsplural

1. a container, usually made of clay, plastic, or ceramic, that is filled with soil

1.nounA2
Definition

a container, usually made of clay, plastic, or ceramic, that is filled with soil and used for growing flowers, herbs, or other plants inside a house or outside in a garden

Example

Cyrus bought a large terracotta plant pot for the olive tree on his balcony.

collocation: terracotta plant pot

Inês moved the basil into a bigger plant pot so the roots had more room to grow.

verb + plant pot: move into a bigger plant pot

Common collocations
  • terracotta plant pot
  • plastic plant pot
  • ceramic plant pot
  • clay plant pot
  • small plant pot
  • large plant pot
  • fill a plant pot (with soil)
  • repot into a plant pot
  • empty plant pot
  • plant pot (with a) drainage hole
Synonyms
  • flowerpot

    more specific — usually implies a pot for flowering plants rather than herbs or vegetables

  • pot

    shorter everyday form; context makes the meaning clear

  • planter

    often larger, can be decorative outdoor furniture rather than a single handheld container

Usage Note

Plant pot is often modified by the material (terracotta plant pot, plastic plant pot, ceramic plant pot) or size (small plant pot, large plant pot).

Common Mistakes

I put the flower in a plant.
I put the flower in a plant pot.
'plant' alone means a living thing that grows; the container is a 'plant pot' or just 'pot'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Plant pot is the most general term for any container that holds soil for growing plants. Flowerpot is a near-synonym but leans toward ornamental flowering plants rather than herbs or vegetables. Pot alone is the common shorter form in everyday speech ('I need a bigger pot for this fern') but can also mean a cooking pot, so context is required. Planter usually refers to a larger, often decorative container — sometimes a piece of outdoor furniture — whereas a plant pot is typically a single handheld vessel that fits on a windowsill or shelf.

flowerpot ↗pot ↗planter

Common collocations

Nouns

  • soil
  • drainage hole
  • potting mix
  • windowsill

Phrases

  • plant pot with a drainage hole
  • fill a plant pot with soil
  • grow herbs in a plant pot

Prepositions

  • in a plant pot
  • into a plant pot

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinEnglish

Plant pot is a simple compound noun formed from 'plant' (from Old English plante, via Latin planta meaning a shoot or cutting) and 'pot' (from Old English pott, probably from a common Germanic word for a container). The two words have been used together in English since at least the 17th century to describe a vessel specifically designed for holding soil and growing plants.