vegetative

adjective

veg·​e·​ta·​tive ˈve-jə-ˌtā-tiv 

1

: relating to, composed of, or suggesting vegetation

2

: of or relating to the division of nature comprising the plant kingdom

3

: leading a dull, monotonous, or passive existence : vegetable entry 2 sense 3

4

a(1)

: growing or having the power of growing

(2)

: of, relating to, or engaged in nutritive and growth functions as contrasted with reproductive functions

a vegetative nucleus

b

: promoting plant growth

the vegetative properties of soil

c

: of, relating to, or involving propagation by nonsexual processes or methods

5

a

: autonomic sense 1

b

: characterized by, resulting from, or being a state in which there is total loss of cognitive functioning and only involuntary bodily functions (such as breathing or blinking of the eyes) are sustained

vegetatively adverb

vegetativeness noun

Examples of vegetative in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2006 neuroscientist Adrian M. Owen, now at Western University in Ontario, and his colleagues examined a young woman who had experienced a severe traumatic brain injury and was believed to be in a vegetative state. —Jan Claassen, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2022

Fresh new growth is the tastiest and most aromatic, and frequent harvests keep the plant in vegetative mode and delay or prevent flowering. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 July 2024

But while Hughie second-guessed himself about using the drug on his father, his mom Daphne (played by guest star Rosemarie DeWitt), takes it out of Hughie’s jacket and injects the dangerous drug into a vegetative Hughie Sr. —Demetrius Patterson, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 June 2024

The developer promises a 30-foot vegetative buffer along Alcove Road and a pedestrian connection across a realigned Fairview Road. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 18 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vegetatif "promoting growth, of the lowest species of soul in Aristotelian philosophy (characteristic of plants), of the plant kingdom," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French vegetative, borrowed from Medieval Latin vegetātīvus, from Late Latin vegetātus, past participle of vegetāre "to live, grow" + Latin -īvus -ive — more at vegetate

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a(1)

Phrases Containing vegetative

• persistent vegetative state

Kids Definition

vegetative

adjective

veg·​e·​ta·​tive ˈvej-ə-ˌtāt-iv 

1

: of, relating to, or functioning in nutrition and growth rather than reproduction

2

: of, relating to, or involving reproduction by other than sexual means

vegetatively adverb

Medical Definition

vegetative

adjective

veg·​e·​ta·​tive ˈvej-ə-ˌtāt-iv 

1

a(1)

: growing or having the power of growing

(2)

: of, relating to, or engaged in nutritive and growth functions as contrasted with reproductive functions

a vegetative nucleus

b

: of, relating to, or involving propagation by nonsexual processes or methods

2

: of or relating to the division of nature comprising the plant kingdom

3

: affecting, arising from, or relating to involuntary bodily functions

4

: characterized by, resulting from, or being a state in which there is total loss of cognitive functioning typically indicated by a lack of awareness of oneself and one's environment and in which only involuntary bodily functions (as breathing or blinking of the eyes) are sustained

entered a vegetative state following a serious head injury

vegetatively adverb