potter

plural potters

1. One who makes pots and other ceramic wares.

   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

   Synonyms: ceramicist

2. One who places flowers or other plants inside their pots.
3. One who pots meats or other eatables.
4. One who hawks crockery or earthenware.

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

   1829, Thomas De Quincey, “Professor Wilson”, in Edinburgh Literary Gazette

5. The red-bellied terrapin, Pseudemys rubriventris (species of turtle).

   Synonyms: northern red-bellied cooter

6. The chicken turtle, Deirochelys reticularia.

present singular third person potters · participle present pottering · participle past pottered · past pottered · alternative putter · alternative pouter · alternative pooter · alternative pudder · alternative pother

1. UKTo act in a vague or unmotivated way; to fuss about with unimportant things.
2. UKTo move slowly or aimlessly. (Often potter about, potter around.)

   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

   1 more example

   "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

3. obsoleteTo poke repeatedly.

plural Potters

1. A person from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK
2. ball gamessomeone connected with Stoke City Football Club (in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK), as a fan, player, coach etc.

plural Potters

1. countableuncountableAn English surname originating as an occupation for a potter.

   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

2. A placename
   1. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community and township in Polk County, Arkansas.
   2. countableuncountableA village in Cheyenne County, Nebraska.
   3. countableuncountableA town in Yates County, New York.
   4. countableuncountableA township in Barnes County, North Dakota.
   5. countableuncountableTwo townships in Pennsylvania, in Beaver County and Centre County.
   6. countableuncountableA village in Calumet County, Wisconsin.
   7. abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountableEllipsis of Potter County.
3. abbreviationcountableellipsisuncountableEllipsis of Harry Potter (“the Wizarding World”).

   The emphasis in the script by Steve Kloves (a credited contributor to all but one of the Potter screenplays) is on intensity, […]

   2011 July 14, John Beifuss, “‘Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ ends Potter saga”, in The Commercial Appeal, page M4

   2 more examples

   In the interest of full disclosure, let it be said: This reviewer is not a Potterphile, has never cracked a Potter book or darkened the door of a theater playing one of the Potter movies.

   2004 June 4, Ann Hornaday, “Harry-Raising Adventure”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Mar 2016

   Despite the success of the novels, press about Harry Potter has not all been positive. Many people, especially some evangelical Christians, have been less than optimistic about the Potter influence.

   2006, Charles H Lippy, Faith in America [Three Volumes] [3 Volumes]: Changes, Challenges, New Directions, Greenwood Publishing Group, →ISBN, page 73