Plant Definition: Pronunciation Tips and Engaging Exercises

You may grasp the definition of “plant” clearer through examples taken from everyday conversations.

The exact equivalents for “plant” are very few, but the words that are related to it indicate the various types or categories that plants belong to.

Related nouns: flower tree bush herb plant

Synonyms (contextual): none, it is a specific noun

Common word combinations: house plant garden plant indoor plant potted plant

The description of “plant” may be altered based on the context in which it is used.

With adjectives: small plant tall plant flowering plant medicinal plant

With verbs: water the plant grow a plant plant seeds

With nouns (noun + noun): plant pot plant care plant leaves plant roots plant garden

What does “plant” mean in everyday language besides a living organism? It can represent an idea or action.

• Plant a seed — to suggest an idea or start something that could grow later.

  She planted a seed about starting a new project, and now everyone is talking about it.

• Plant a bomb / plant evidence — to secretly put something somewhere.

  The police found out someone planted evidence at the scene.

• Plant your flag — to claim something or show ownership.

  The company planted its flag in the new market last year.

Take a few minutes to complete this exercise and practice how to define a “plant” and use it correctly.

See how “plant” is said in different European languages and notice how it compares to English.

Although the dictionary definition of “plant” explains it as a living organism, plants can amaze us in ways that go far beyond this simple description, showing unusual growth, longevity, and even movement.

• The oldest known plant is more than 400 million years old.

  Fossils of primitive terrestrial plants indicate that plants were present on Earth long before the dinosaurs came into existence. These ancient plants contributed to the formation of the planet’s atmosphere.

• Extreme conditions are no problem for some plants.

  The Welwitschia plant is a desert survivor in the Namib Desert, and it is also very long-lived. It can survive over 1,000 years and nearly no water in one of the driest places on Earth, which is practically its habitat.

• The tallest plant on earth is a tree that is more than 115 meters high.

  The California coast redwood Hyperion tree is taller than a 35-story structure. It is thought to be more than 700 years old.

• Some plants can actually move more quickly than anticipated.

  The Venus flytrap has a closing time of less than one second for its snap and therefore catches unsuspecting insects, which means that plants are not always as slow as we think.

Writers and thinkers often use the term “plant” to express life lessons and growth. Some of the most inspiring quotes come from those who celebrate nature and the beauty of the living world.