pot1

noun

• 1a rounded or cylindrical container, typically of metal, used for cooking:pots and pans hung from a rack
• [usually with modifier or in combination] any of various containers made for a particular purpose, especially one used for storage:a yogurt pot a coffee pot
• a container for holding drink, especially beer.
• the contents of a pot:a pot of coffee

• 2 (the pot) the total sum of the bets made on a round in poker, brag, etc.:Jim raked in half the pot
• all the money contributed by a group of people for a particular purpose:in insurance, everybody puts money into the pot used to pay claims

• 3 informal a prize in a sporting contest, especially a silver cup.

• 4 informal a pot belly: men pat their pots proudly and talk of how they must have got through a few skinfuls

• 5 informal an engine cylinder.

• 6 Billiards & Snooker a shot in which a player strikes a ball into a pocket: he put together a 36 clearance to blue which was full of difficult pots

verb (pots, potting, potted)

• 1plant in a flowerpot: pot individual cuttings as soon as you see new young leaves
• (pot something on) transplant a plant from a small flowerpot to a larger one.
• (pot something up) transplant a seedling into a flowerpot.

• 2preserve (food, especially meat or fish) in a sealed pot or jar:venison can be potted in the same way as tongue

• 3 Billiards & Snooker strike (a ball) into a pocket:he failed to pot a red at close range

• 4 informal hit or kill by shooting:he was shot in the eye as neighbours potted clay pigeons
• succeed in obtaining (something desirable); win:do you fancy potting a fine trophy?

• 5 [no object] make articles from earthenware or baked clay:why not paint or pot in the sun this winter?

• 6British sit (a young child) on a potty.

• 7encapsulate (an electrical component or circuit) in a synthetic resin or similar insulating material which sets solid.