Plant vs. Seedling — What's the Difference?

Plants are mainly multicellular organisms, predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, plants were treated as one of two kingdoms including all living things that were not animals, and all algae and fungi were treated as plants.

A seedling is a young sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a seed. Seedling development starts with germination of the seed.

A living organism of the kind exemplified by trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns, and mosses, typically growing in a permanent site, absorbing water and inorganic substances through its roots, and synthesizing nutrients in its leaves by photosynthesis using the green pigment chlorophyll.

A young plant, especially one that grows from a seed, rather than from a cutting, for example.

A place where an industrial or manufacturing process takes place

(botany) A young plant grown from seed.

A person placed in a group as a spy or informer

Any young plant, especially:

A shot in which the cue ball is made to strike one of two touching or nearly touching balls with the result that the second is potted.

One grown in a nursery for transplanting.

Put (a seed, bulb, or plant) in the ground so that it can grow

A tree smaller than a sapling.

Set or place in a particular position

A plant reared from the seed, as distinguished from one propagated by layers, buds, or the like.

Any of various photosynthetic, eukaryotic, multicellular organisms of the kingdom Plantae characteristically containing chloroplasts, having cell walls made of cellulose, producing embryos, and lacking the power of locomotion. Plants include trees, bushes, herbs, ferns, mosses, and certain green algae.

Young plant or tree grown from a seed

A plant having no permanent woody stem; an herb.

Any of various fungi, algae, or protists that resemble plants and were formerly classified in the plant kingdom. Not in scientific use.

A building or group of buildings for the manufacture of a product; a factory

The buildings, fixtures, and equipment, including machinery, tools, and instruments, necessary for an industrial operation or an institution

A person placed in a group of spectators to influence behavior.

A person stationed in a given location as a spy or observer.

A misleading piece of evidence placed so as to be discovered.

A remark or action in a play or narrative that becomes important later.

(Slang) A scheming trick; a swindle.

To place or set (seeds, for example) in the ground to grow.

To place seeds or young plants in (land); sow

To place (spawn or young fish) in water or an underwater bed for cultivation

To stock with spawn or fish.

To introduce (an animal) into an area.

To place or fix in a certain position

To deliver (a punch or blow).

To fix firmly in the mind; implant

To establish; found

To station (a person) for the purpose of functioning in secret, as by observing, spying, or influencing behavior

To place secretly or deceptively so as to be discovered or made public

To conceal; hide

(botany) An organism that is not an animal, especially an organism capable of photosynthesis. Typically a small or herbaceous organism of this kind, rather than a tree.

(botany) An organism of the kingdom Plantae; now specifically, a living organism of the Embryophyta (land plants) or of the Chlorophyta (green algae), a eukaryote that includes double-membraned chloroplasts in its cells containing chlorophyll a and b, or any organism closely related to such an organism.

(ecology) Now specifically, a multicellular eukaryote that includes chloroplasts in its cells, which have a cell wall.

Any creature that grows on soil or similar surfaces, including plants and fungi.

A factory or other industrial or institutional building or facility.

An object placed surreptitiously in order to cause suspicion to fall upon a person.

Anyone assigned to behave as a member of the public during a covert operation (as in a police investigation).

A person, placed amongst an audience, whose role is to cause confusion, laughter etc.

(snooker) A play in which the cue ball knocks one (usually red) ball onto another, in order to pot the second; a set.

(uncountable) Machinery, such as the kind used in earthmoving or construction.

(obsolete) A young tree; a sapling; hence, a stick or staff.

(obsolete) The sole of the foot.

A plan; a swindle; a trick.

An oyster which has been bedded, in distinction from one of natural growth.

A young oyster suitable for transplanting.

(control theory) The combination of process and actuator.

(ambitransitive) To place (a seed or plant) in soil or other substrate in order that it may live and grow.

(transitive) To place (an object, or sometimes a person), often with the implication of intending deceit.

(transitive) To place or set something firmly or with conviction.

To place in the ground.

To furnish or supply with plants.

To engender; to generate; to set the germ of.

To furnish with a fixed and organized population; to settle; to establish.

To introduce and establish the principles or seeds of.

To set up; to install; to instate.

A vegetable; an organized living being, generally without feeling and voluntary motion, and having, when complete, a root, stem, and leaves, though consisting sometimes only of a single leafy expansion, or a series of cellules, or even a single cellule.

A bush, or young tree; a sapling; hence, a stick or staff.

The sole of the foot.

The whole machinery and apparatus employed in carrying on a trade or mechanical business; also, sometimes including real estate, and whatever represents investment of capital in the means of carrying on a business, but not including material worked upon or finished products; as, the plant of a foundry, a mill, or a railroad.

A plan; an artifice; a swindle; a trick.

An oyster which has been bedded, in distinction from one of natural growth.

To put in the ground and cover, as seed for growth; as, to plant maize.

To set in the ground for growth, as a young tree, or a vegetable with roots.

To furnish, or fit out, with plants; as, to plant a garden, an orchard, or a forest.

To engender; to generate; to set the germ of.

To furnish with a fixed and organized population; to settle; to establish; as, to plant a colony.

To introduce and establish the principles or seeds of; as, to plant Christianity among the heathen.

To set firmly; to fix; to set and direct, or point; as, to plant cannon against a fort; to plant a standard in any place; to plant one's feet on solid ground; to plant one's fist in another's face.

To set up; to install; to instate.

To perform the act of planting.

Buildings for carrying on industrial labor;

A living organism lacking the power of locomotion

Something planted secretly for discovery by another;

An actor situated in the audience whose acting is rehearsed but seems spontaneous to the audience

Put or set (seeds or seedlings) into the ground;

Fix or set securely or deeply;

Set up or lay the groundwork for;

Place into a river;

Place something or someone in a certain position in order to secretly observe or deceive;

Put firmly in the mind;