potato
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/pəˈteɪtoʊ/
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A starchy tuber commonly eaten as a vegetable, and by extension a term for a lazy person or a low‑performance computer.
Examples
The office's potato can't handle video editing.
A potato casserole is a comfort food classic.
The whole group turned into potatoes during the movie marathon.
Even the simplest spreadsheet runs slow on this potato.
She joked that her laptop is a potato after the update.
Similar words
white potato
tin can
loafer
spudlaggy PC
tuber
clunker
idler
lazybones
slow computer
Meanings
Examples
She boiled a potato for the salad.
The potato was mashed with butter.
He planted potatoes in his garden last spring.
We made potato chips for the party.
A potato casserole is a comfort food classic.
Similar words
spudtuber
Irish potato
white potato
Examples
After the marathon, he became a potato on the couch.
She spent Saturday night as a potato, binge‑watching shows.
Don't be a potato, get up and move!
The whole group turned into potatoes during the movie marathon.
He's such a potato, never helps with chores.
Similar words
couch potato
slacker
idler
loafer
layabout
bum
lazybones
FAQ
What does potato mean as a food?
Potato refers to the starchy underground tuber of the plant Solanum tuberosum that is commonly boiled, baked, or fried.
How is potato used as slang for a lazy person?
In informal slang, potato describes someone who spends a lot of time sitting and doing little, especially watching television.
What does it mean when someone calls a computer a potato?
Calling a computer a potato is an informal way to say it has weak hardware and performs poorly, especially with graphics‑intensive tasks.
Is potato ever used as a verb?
No, potato functions as a noun only; there is no standard verb form.
Are there plural forms of potato?
Yes, the regular plural is potatoes.
What are common synonyms for potato the vegetable?
Synonyms include spud, tuber, Irish potato, white potato, new potato, fingerling, and russet.
What are synonyms for potato the slang sense?
For the slang sense, synonyms are couch potato, slacker, idler, loafer, layabout, bum, and lazybones.
How can I avoid confusing potato with sweet potato?
Remember that potato is the common tuber Solanum tuberosum, while sweet potato is a different species with a sweeter flavor.
Can potato be used in formal writing?
Yes, when referring to the vegetable it is perfectly acceptable in formal contexts; the slang and tech senses are informal.
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