potter

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈpɑtɚ/ UK /ˈpɒtə/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like patter /æ/ vs /ɑ/

Freq #6317

Meanings

1

verb
work lightly

The old lady is pottering around in the garden.
2

noun
One who makes pots and other ceramic wares.

Shoemakers, weavers, potters, bronzeworkers who produced and purveyed the articles necessary for daily life.
3

noun
One who hawks crockery or earthenware.

The convivial society of gipsies, tinkers, potters, strolling players, &c.
4

verb
To move slowly or aimlessly. (Often potter about, potter around.)

He’s so dreamy and absent-minded. He potters about the garden all the time.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · work lightly putter

2 noun · one who makes pots and... ceramicist

Word family

Derived forms potterdompottererpotteresquepotteresspotterficpotterheadpotterholicpotterianpotteringlypotteritepotterlockpottermania

Etymology

From Middle English pottere, from Old English pottere (“potter”, in placenames), from Proto-West Germanic *pottārī (“pot-maker”), equivalent to pot + -er. Influenced by Anglo-Norman poter, Old French potier (“potter”). Cognate with Dutch potter (“potter”), German Low German Pötter, Pütter (“potter”). Displaced Old English synonyms lāmwyrhta (“a worker in clay, potter”, literally “loam-worker”), tiġelwyrhta (“brickmaker, potter”, literally “tile-worker”), crocwyrhta (“crocker, potter”, literally “crock-worker”).

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# potter

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɑtɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɒtə/
**Frequency rank:** 6317

## Meanings
1. work lightly
2. One who makes pots and other ceramic wares.
3. One who hawks crockery or earthenware.
4. To move slowly or aimlessly. (Often potter about, potter around.)

## Examples
- The old lady is pottering around in the garden.
- Shoemakers, weavers, potters, bronzeworkers who produced and purveyed the articles necessary for daily life.
- The convivial society of gipsies, tinkers, potters, strolling players, &c.
- He’s so dreamy and absent-minded. He potters about the garden all the time.

## Derived Forms
- potterdom
- potterer
- potteresque
- potteress
- potterfic
- potterhead
- potterholic
- potterian
- potteringly
- potterite
- potterlock
- pottermania

## Etymology
From Middle English pottere, from Old English pottere (“potter”, in placenames), from Proto-West Germanic *pottārī (“pot-maker”), equivalent to pot + -er. Influenced by Anglo-Norman poter, Old French potier (“potter”). Cognate with Dutch potter (“potter”), German Low German Pötter, Pütter (“potter”). Displaced Old English synonyms lāmwyrhta (“a worker in clay, potter”, literally “loam-worker”), tiġelwyrhta (“brickmaker, potter”, literally “tile-worker”), crocwyrhta (“crocker, potter”, literally “crock-worker”).

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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