potato
UK[pəˈteɪ.təʊ]US[pəˈteɪ.t̬oʊ]
n
a round vegetable that grows underground, has brown or red skin, and is white or yellow inside. it can be cooked and eaten in many ways.
n
the plant that produces this vegetable.
Etymology
the word "potato" entered english in the mid-16th century from spanish "patata." the spanish term was itself a hybrid, blending the caribbean taino word "batata" (referring to the sweet potato) with the quechua word "papa" (referring to the white potato). this linguistic fusion reflects the european encounter with two distinct new world tubers. the word's journey from indigenous american languages into spanish and then english, with its form stabilized as "potato," is a direct record of colonial botanical exchange. its meaning has since narrowed in common usage to primarily denote the white potato (solanum tuberosum).
Analysis
the word "potato" is a simplex loanword. it does not contain separable morphemes within its modern english spelling.
Examples
she peeled and chopped the potatoes for the stew.
idaho is famous for growing high-quality potatoes.
would you like baked potatoes or french fries with your meal?