potato

Everyday

1. A potato is a vegetable that grows under the ground; we eat it cooked. tree →
2. A couch potato is a person who sits watching TV a lot. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: a thing counted, weighed or bought; potatoes in bags (kg or pounds); rows of potatoes planted. In science: a potato is a tuber, a swollen underground stem that stores food; potatoes can grow new plants from their «eyes». In everyday life: chips, fries, mashed potatoes, crisps. In history: the potato famine in Ireland.

Examples

• She peeled 8 potatoes. tree →
• A bag holds 5 kg of potatoes. tree →
• Each potato weighs 200 grams. tree →
• He planted 3 rows of potatoes. tree →
• We had baked potatoes for dinner. tree →
• Potatoes grow under the ground. tree →
• French fries are made from potatoes. tree →
• A potato with green skin should not be eaten. tree →
• Don't be a couch potato, go outside and play! tree →
• She put a great potato into his hand. tree →

Note

A thing counted or weighed. Plural is «potatoes». Trap: «kg of potatoes» counts weight, not the number of potatoes. Potato is a vegetable; botanically it is a stem, not a root. Safety: green parts and sprouts of potatoes are mildly poisonous; do not eat them raw.