Plantation
plænˈteɪʃən
Definitions
2 meaningsA large estate where crops are grown, often involving the labor of a workforce that may or may not be paid.
plænˈteɪʃən
A large estate, especially in a tropical or subtropical country, where crops such as cotton, tobacco, coffee, or sugar cane are cultivated, typically by resident laborers.
The wealthy landowner owned a vast cotton plantation.
💡 Simply: Imagine a giant farm where they grow a specific crop, like sugar or cotton. Think of it as a big business for growing food or other things. Sometimes, people who work on plantations don't get paid very well. It's basically a giant place for growing a lot of one thing.
👶 For kids: A big, big farm where they grow special plants like cotton or sugar cane.
More Examples
The history of the region is intertwined with the rise and fall of sugar plantations.
The plantation employed hundreds of workers to cultivate the fields.
How It's Used
"Many historical novels are set on southern plantations during the antebellum period."
"The plantation specializes in the cultivation of high-quality coffee beans."
"The plantation's economy was heavily reliant on imported labor."
The act of planting crops or trees on a large scale.
plænˈteɪʃən
The act or process of planting crops.
The plantation of the rice paddies was a back-breaking process.
💡 Simply: It's like when you plant lots and lots of seeds or trees to create a forest or a farm. Instead of just one little garden, it's planting a huge amount! Consider the planting of trees in a forest.
👶 For kids: When people plant lots of plants or trees, like making a whole bunch of gardens all together.
More Examples
The conservation group's focus was the plantation of trees in deforested areas.
Successful plantation ensures high agricultural output.
How It's Used
"The orchard is a result of the plantation of fruit trees over several years."
"The plantation of new trees helped to improve the forest ecosystem."
Idioms & expressions
Plantation economy
An economic system based on the production of crops, often involving a large-scale operation.
"The history of the region is shaped by the plantation economy."
From French *plantation*, from *planter* ('to plant'), from Latin *plantāre* ('to plant'). Historically referred to agricultural estates, especially in colonial contexts.
Historically, the term is significantly tied to the colonial era and associated with the production of cash crops and the use of forced labor.
Memory tip
Picture a huge field with crops. It's a *plantation*!