plantation

¹

[plan-tey-shuhn]

noun

1. a large farm or estate in a tropical or semitropical zone, for the cultivation of cotton, tobacco, coffee, sugarcane, etc., typically by enslaved, unpaid, or low-wage resident laborers.

2. a group of planted trees or plants.

3. History/Historical.

   1. a colony or new settlement.

   2. the establishment of a colony or new settlement.

4. Archaic.,  the planting of seeds, young trees, etc.

adjective

1. (of clothing, furnishings, etc.) suitable for a plantation or for a tropical or semitropical country.

Plantation

²

[plan-tey-shuhn]

noun

1. a town in S Florida.

plantation

/ plænˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. an estate, esp in tropical countries, where cash crops such as rubber, oil palm, etc, are grown on a large scale

2. a group of cultivated trees or plants

3. (formerly) a colony or group of settlers

4. rare,  the planting of seeds, shoots, etc

Other Word Forms

• plantationlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of plantation¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English plantacioune, from Latin plantātiōn- (stem of plantātiō ) “a planting”; plant (verb), -ation

Example Sentences

During a recent visit, a lot that had been cleared for a groundbreaking ceremony in May was deserted, with plantations around it.

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Its eight columns stretching three stories high made the building look like a cross between the White House and a Southern plantation home.

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Small farmers whose plots are close to soy plantations say they disrupt local weather patterns and make it harder to grow their crops.

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If açaí production was expanded into many industrial-size plantations, it could start to cause exactly the same problems that people like Damien are trying to solve.

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Padre Tiago has threatened to eradicate American influence and to nationalize the United Fruit Co. plantations.

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Related Words

• estate 
• homestead 
• orchard 
• ranch