plant

I UK [plɑːnt] / US [plænt] noun
Word forms "plant":
singular plant plural plants
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1) [countable] a living thing that grows in soil, has leaves and roots, and needs water and light from the sun to live

a garden/pot/house plant

a strawberry plant

2)

a) [countable] a factory that produces power, or processes chemicals etc

a nuclear/chemical plant

a power/processing plant

b) a factory that makes cars, machines, equipment etc

a car assembly plant (= where cars are put together from parts)

3) [uncountable] British large machines and equipment used in industry

plant hire (= industrial machines for rent)

4) [countable, usually singular] something stolen or illegal that is put on someone without their knowledge, or is hidden in other possessions so that they appear guilty when it is found

5) [countable] a person who is put into a group or organization to find out information secretly

II UK [plɑːnt] / US [plænt] verb [transitive]
Word forms "plant":
present tense I/you/we/they plant he/she/it plants present participle planting past tense planted past participle planted
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1)

a) to put trees, plants, or seeds in soil or the ground so that they will grow there

I've planted a small apple tree in the garden.

b) to use an area of land for growing trees, plants, crops etc

plant something with something:

We drove past fields planted with a variety of crops.

2) to firmly put someone or something or yourself in a particular place or position

plant something in/on etc something:

Toby's aunt planted a big, wet kiss on his cheek.

Henry planted himself in the seat next to me.

3) to put something illegal or stolen on someone secretly, or to hide it in their possessions, so that they appear guilty when it is found

Three officers were accused of planting evidence in the suspect's room.

plant something on someone:

Someone must have planted the gun on him.

4) to put someone in a group or organization so that they can find out information secretly

The police had planted an officer in the club to catch the drug dealers.

5) if someone plants a bomb, they hide it where they want it to explode

6) if you plant an idea in someone's mind, you introduce it so that they begin to think about it

Both candidates will make promises and plant ideas, trying to earn trust.

Phrasal verbs:

- plant out

- plant over

- plant up