plant
gb/plˈænt/ us/plˈænt/
A1
English
~ 2900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
A living thing like a tree or flower
A living thing that grows in the ground, like a tree or flower.
Usage pattern:
a [type of] plant
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'plant' (the living organism) with 'plant' meaning 'factory'. Context is key.
Synonyms
flora (More formal or scientific term for plant life in general.)
Antonyms
animal (Represents the other main kingdom of life alongside plants.)
Collocations
plant species
|indoor plant
|potted plant
|water plants
|plant growth
Themes
science
|nature
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The garden is full of colorful plants.
- This plant needs more sunlight to grow.
- We bought a new plant for the office.
- Some plants can survive in very dry conditions.
Learner examples
- I have a small plant on my desk.
- The plant is green and tall.
- She waters the plant every day.
- That plant has big leaves.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Factory or industrial site
A place where machines are used to make things or produce energy.
Usage pattern:
a [type of] plant
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the living organism meaning; check surrounding words like 'power', 'manufacturing', or 'chemical'.
Synonyms
factory (General term for a place where goods are made; 'plant' often used for large-scale or industrial facilities.)
Antonyms
office (A place where administrative work is done, not manufacturing.)
Collocations
power plant
|manufacturing plant
|nuclear plant
|chemical plant
Themes
business
|industry
|work
|technology
Examples
- The company opened a new manufacturing plant in Texas.
- Hundreds of workers are employed at the power plant.
- Safety inspections are required for all chemical plants.
Learner examples
- My father works at a car plant.
- The power plant makes electricity for the city.
- They built a new plant near the river.
Verb
A2
action
3
Put seeds or plants in soil
To put seeds or small plants into the ground so they can grow.
Usage pattern:
to plant [something] in [place]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'plant' (verb) with 'grow'. You plant something; it grows by itself afterward.
Synonyms
sow ('Sow' is used mainly for scattering seeds, often over a large area.)
Antonyms
harvest (Refers to collecting crops after they have grown, the opposite stage of planting.)
Collocations
plant seeds
|plant trees
|plant flowers
Themes
nature
|gardening
|daily_life
Examples
- We planted tomatoes in the backyard last spring.
- He planted a row of roses along the fence.
- Farmers plant crops in early spring.
Learner examples
- I will plant flowers in the garden.
- They plant rice every year.
- She planted a tree in the park.
Verb
B2
action
4
Put firmly in place
To put something in a place so it does not move.
Usage pattern:
to plant [something] [somewhere]
Synonyms
set ('Set' is more general; 'plant' often implies firmness or force.)
Antonyms
remove (Taking something away from where it was placed.)
Collocations
plant feet firmly
|plant flag
Themes
physical actions
|core_vocabulary
|work
Examples
- He planted his feet firmly on the ground before lifting the box.
- They planted a flag at the top of the mountain.
- She planted her hands on her hips.
Learner examples
- He planted his feet on the floor.
- They planted a flag on the hill.
- She planted her hands on her hips.
Verb
B2
action
5
Hide something to trick someone
To hide something so another person will find it and be tricked or blamed.
Usage pattern:
to plant [something] on [someone/in someplace]
Synonyms
frame ('Frame' focuses on blaming someone falsely; 'plant' refers to placing the false evidence.)
Antonyms
remove evidence (Taking away incriminating items rather than placing them.)
Collocations
plant evidence
|plant drugs
Themes
crime
|deception
|law
|communication
Examples
- The police accused him of planting drugs in the suspect's car.
- Someone had planted false evidence at the crime scene.
- They claimed the documents were planted to discredit her.
Learner examples
- He planted drugs in her bag.
- The police planted false papers in his house.
- She planted a phone in his car.
Grammar
Dictionary form
plant
IPA
GB/plˈænt/
US/plˈænt/
Syllables & stress
plant (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (plant)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: plant
- Plural: plant, plants
Verb
- Base: plant
- 3rd Person Singular: plants
- Present Participle: planting
- Past: planted
Word family
Forms
plants
noun
planting
verb
planted
verb
Related words
planter
noun
plantation
noun B2
Advanced or less common
replant
verb
transplant
verb C1
Expressions
plant closure
1/plˈænt klˈoʊʒɚ/
fixed phrase
Closing of a factory or facility
When a factory or business stops working and closes.
Examples
- The town suffered after the automobile plant closure.
- Workers protested against the planned plant closure.
plant-based diet
1/plˈænt bˈeɪst dˈaɪət/
fixed phrase
Diet made mostly from plants
A way of eating where most or all food comes from plants, not animals.
Examples
- She switched to a plant-based diet for health reasons.
- Plant-based diets are becoming more popular worldwide.
power plant
1/pˈaʊɚ plˈænt/
fixed phrase
technical
Place where electricity is produced
A building where electricity is made.
Examples
- The city depends on a coal-fired power plant for most of its energy.
- New environmental rules apply to all power plants.
plant a seed
1/plˈænt ə sˈid/
idiom
Cause something to begin growing or developing later
To start an idea or plan that will grow or develop later.
Examples
- Her words planted a seed that grew into a new project.
- Her teacher planted a seed that inspired her to become a scientist.
- The teacher planted a seed of curiosity in his students.
- The marketing campaign planted a seed of curiosity about the product.