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vegetable definition

veg·eta·ble (vej′tə bəl, vej′ə tə-)

adjective

  1. of, or having the nature of, plants in general the vegetable kingdom
  2. of, having the nature of, made from, consisting of, or produced by edible vegetables

Etymology: ME < ML vegetabilis, vegetative, capable of growth < LL, animating, enlivening < L vegetare: see vegetate

noun

  1. broadly, any plant, as distinguished from animal or inorganic matter
    1. any herbaceous plant that is eaten whole or in part, raw or cooked
    2. the edible part of such a plant, as the root (e.g., a carrot), tuber (a potato), seed (a pea), fruit (a tomato), stem (celery), or leaf (lettuce)
  3. a person thought of as like a vegetable, as because of leading a dull, unthinking existence or because of having lost consciousness, the use of the mind, etc.

Etymology: < ML vegetabilia (pl.), growing things, vegetables

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical vegetable definition - medical

vegetable Synonyms

vegetable

modif.

  1. Concerning flora

    plant, plantlike, herblike, floral, blooming, blossoming, growing, flourishing.

  2. Without spirit

    dull, monotonous, stupid, passive, unthinking, stagnant, inert, comatose, humble, stationary, inactive, mild, quiet, lowly.


vegetable

n.

  1. A plant

    herbaceous plant, herb, green, legume, garden produce, edible root.

    Common vegetables include: cabbage, potato, turnip, bean, carrot, pea, celery, lettuce, parsnip, spinach, squash, zucchini, tomato, pumpkin, asparagus, onion, corn, lentil, leek, garlic, radish, cucumber, artichoke, eggplant, beet, scallion, pepper, okra, kohlrabi, parsley, celtuce, chard, rhubarb, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, celeriac, endive, Chinese cabbage, bok choy, water cress, chicory, kale, rutabaga, mushroom.

  2. An inert person

    clod, bump on a log*, couch potato*.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

vegetable Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • roast: And the sandwiches looked very nice, too: the smoked salmon and cream cheese and the roasted vegetables and cheese looked especially good.

Adjective modifier

  • leafy: Sources: fresh fruit, fruit juice, green leafy vegetables, potatoes.

Modifies a noun

  • peeling: Use a mixture of layered waste such as autumn leaves, grass cuttings, raw vegetable peeling or shredded paper.

Noun used with modifier

  • salad: This group includes fresh, frozen and tinned varieties, salad vegetables, beans and lentils, dried fruit and fruit juice.
vegetable usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

vegetable quotes

I am the very model of a modern Major-General, I've information vegetable, animal and mineral, I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical, From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical.

-Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

Its clones have hung on so many suburban walls over the decades that it has become the Mona Lisa of the vegetable world.

-Hughes, Robert Studley Forrest

My vegetable love should grow Vaster than empires, and more slow, An hundred years should go to praise Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze. Two hundred to adore each breast: But thirty thousand to the rest. An age at least to every part, And the last age should show your heart. For Lady you deserve this state; Nor would I love at lower rate. But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near: And yonder all before us lie Deserts of vast eternity.

-Marvell, Andrew

vegetable quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"vegetable." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/vegetable>

APA Style

vegetable. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/vegetable

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