plant

1 noun

1 LIVING THING (C) a living thing that has leaves and roots and grows in earth, especially one that is smaller than a tree: Don't forget to water the plants. | a potato plant | plant pots

—see also: houseplant

2 FACTORY (C) a factory or building where an industrial process happens: a huge chemical plant

—see also: power plant

3 MACHINERY (U) BrE heavy machinery that is used in industrial processes: We are investing in new plant for the factory. | a plant hire business

4 STH ILLEGAL (countable usually singular) something illegal or stolen that is hidden in someone's clothes or possessions to make them seem guilty

5 PERSON (C) someone who is put somewhere or sent somewhere secretly to find out information

2 verb (T)

1 PLANT/SEEDS to put plants or seeds in the ground to grow: to plant a tree | We've planted tomatoes and carrots in the garden.

2 plant a field/garden/area etc (with sth) to plant seeds, plants, or trees in a field etc: a hillside planted with fir trees

3 PUT STH SOMEWHERE (always + adv/prep) informal to put something firmly in or on something else: plant sth in/on etc: My grandmother planted a big wet kiss on my cheek. | She planted her feet firmly to the spot and refused to move.

4 ILLEGAL GOODS informal to hide stolen or illegal goods in someone's clothes, bags, room etc in order to make them seem guilty: plant sth on sb: Someone must have planted the drugs on her.

5 plant a bomb informal to put a bomb somewhere: Two men are accused of planting a bomb on the plane.

6 PERSON (T) to put or send someone somewhere, especially secretly, so that they can find out information: plant sb in/at etc: The police had planted undercover detectives at every entrance.

7 plant an idea/doubt/suspicion (in sb's mind) to make someone begin to believe an idea, especially so that they do not realize it was you who gave them the idea

plant sth out phrasal verb (T) to put a young plant into the soil outdoors, so that it has enough room to grow