plant

noun

• 1a living organism of the kind exemplified by trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns, and mosses, typically growing in a permanent site, absorbing water and inorganic substances through its roots, and synthesizing nutrients in its leaves by photosynthesis using the green pigment chlorophyll.
• a small plant, as distinct from a shrub or tree:garden plants

Plants differ from animals in lacking specialized sense organs, having no capacity for voluntary movement, having cell walls, and growing to suit their surroundings rather than having a fixed body plan

• 2a place where an industrial or manufacturing process takes place:a giant car plant
• [mass noun] machinery used in an industrial or manufacturing process:inadequate investment in new plant

• 3a person placed in a group as a spy or informer:we thought he was a CIA plant spreading disinformation
• a thing put among someone’s belongings to incriminate or compromise them.

• 4 Snooker a shot in which the cue ball is made to strike one of two touching or nearly touching balls with the result that the second is potted.

verb

• 1put (a seed, bulb, or plant) in the ground so that it can grow:we planted a lot of fruit trees
• cover or supply (an area of land) with plants:the garden is planted with herbs
• (plant something out) place a plant in the ground out of doors so it can grow, especially after growing it from seed in an indoor environment: the foxgloves are grown from seed and planted out in the autumn
• informal bury (someone): it was raining when we planted him

• 2 [with object and adverbial of place] set or place in a particular position:he planted himself squarely in front of her she planted a kiss on his cheek
• establish (an idea) in someone’s mind:the seed of doubt is planted in his mind
• secretly place (a bomb that is set to go off at a later time): several incendiary devices were planted in stores
• put or hide (something) among someone’s belongings to compromise or incriminate the owner:they claimed that the drugs had been planted on them by police
• send (someone) to join a group or organization to act as a spy or informer: he managed to plant an agent in his war council
• found or establish (a colony, city, or community): he was commissioned to plant the order in England
• deposit (young fish, spawn, oysters, etc.) in a river or lake.