Potter Meaning
/ˈpɒtə/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounOne who makes pots and other ceramic wares.
nounOne who places flowers or other plants inside their pots.
Sentence Examples
Mr Potter keeps himself in good condition by going jogging every day.
The potter's lost his cunning.
I think I'll potter about in the garden today.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ shaped the clay on the wheel to make a beautiful vase.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ shaped the wet clay on the spinning wheel into a graceful vase with practiced hands.
Word Origin & History
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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"shoemakers, weavers, potters, bronzeworkers who produced and purveyed the articles necessary for daily life."
— 1961, J. A. Philip, “Mimesis in the Sophistês of Plato,”, in Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, volume 92, page 453:
"the convivial society of gipsies, tinkers, potters, strolling players, &c."
— 1829, Thomas De Quincey, “Professor Wilson”, in Edinburgh Literary Gazette:
"He’s so dreamy and absent-minded. He potters about the garden all the time."
— 1923, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter II, in Leave It to Psmith:
""We love our little diesel trains. They potter up and down. They break down. The C6 overhaul is only a temporary answer. By the time they are replaced, they will be 45 years old."
— 2026 February 18, Paul Clifton, “West of England Line problems laid bare”, in RAIL, number 1055, page 7:
"We are Harry Potter and William Wallace, the Na’vi and Han Solo. We’re escaping from Shawshank and blowing up the Death Star. We are fighting with the Harkonnens and challenging Thanos. Ukraine is hosting one of the great epics of this century."
— 2023 February 16, Pavlo Kazarin, “A year ago I volunteered as a soldier in the Ukrainian army”, in NATO Review, archived from the original on 31 Mar 2025:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ shaped the clay on the wheel to make a beautiful vase.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ shaped the wet clay on the spinning wheel into a graceful vase with practiced hands.