vegetable
noun
veg·e·ta·ble
| \ ˈvej-tə-bəl
, ˈve-jə-\
, ˈve-jə-\
Definition of vegetable
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: a usually herbaceous plant (such as the cabbage, bean, or potato) grown for an edible part that is usually eaten as part of a meal
also
: such an edible part
2
: plant sense 1b
3a
: a person having a dull or merely physical existence
b
informal, sometimes offensive
: a person whose mental and physical functioning is severely impaired and especially one who requires supportive measures (such as mechanical ventilation) to survive
vegetable
adjectiveDefinition of vegetable (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: of, relating to, constituting, or growing like plants
b
: consisting of plants : vegetational
2
: made from, obtained from, or containing plants or plant products
vegetable soup vegetable fat
3
: resembling or suggesting a plant (as in inertness or passivity)
Examples of vegetable in a Sentence
Noun
The doctor said I should eat more fruits and vegetables. a bowl of vegetable soup The accident had left him a vegetable.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Portraits of the governor and his wife posing with prize-winning vegetables (both are keen gardeners) decorate the walls of the family home in Ngabang, a town in the hills four hours’ drive from Pontianak, the provincial capital. — The Economist, "Borneo againIndonesian Islamists open a new front in their war on tolerance," 20 July 2017 This summer, at the South Windsor Farmers Market, SoWin/EatsHealthy will be offering discounted boxes of fresh vegetables from local farmers. — Courant Community, "Community News For The South Windsor Edition," 17 July 2017 The Saturday Muldoon Farmers Market will have baklava, baked goods, rhubarb, crafts and loads of vegetables, including salad mixes, tomatoes, radishes, greens, zucchini, bok choy and herbs. — Steve Edwards, Alaska Dispatch News, "Market Fresh: Take a Valley farm tour, order a custom chicken coop or nab some peonies," 12 July 2017 Like going to the bathroom, or, conversely, being able to eat: Human waste will be treated through a bio-fermentation process, and experimental crops and vegetables will be grown with the help of food and waste byproducts. — Rachel Jacoby Zoldan, Teen Vogue, "Beihang University Students Spend 200 Days Inside Sealed Space Craft," 11 July 2017 In rats with diabetes, the compound, which occurs naturally in cruciferous vegetables, had the intended effect, reversing the genetic signature in the animals’ livers. — Jessica Wapner, MSNBC Newsweek, "Sulforaphane, a Chemical in Broccoli, May Help Diabetics Control Blood Sugar," 15 June 2017 Her family still has a small vegetable garden and a hillside plot filled with a few dozen white tea plants, but most of their crops have been replaced with cedar trees and a scattering of bamboo. — Michael Holtz, The Christian Science Monitor, "China spent $100 billion on reforestation. So why does it have 'green deserts'?," 28 June 2017 That’s no surprise, perhaps, given the organic revolution and the proximity to the state’s absurdly fertile Central Valley, which produces half of the country’s fruits and vegetables. — Derek Thompson, The Atlantic, "The Paradox of American Restaurants," 20 June 2017 The vendors sprawled across several streets with fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and coffee. — Amanda Shine, Harper's BAZAAR, "How to Travel in Venice Like a Chic Ceramicist," 15 June 2017Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
Granite counters provide ample work space along the outer walls while a large freestanding island, with its vegetable prep sink and butcher block maple counter offer added space for meal preparation during family gatherings. — courant.com, "Property of the Week: 194 Woodpond Road, West Hartford," 16 Aug. 2019 Stir in the potatoes, whole beans and bean purees, and vegetable stock. — Wolfgang Puck, Twin Cities, "Wolfgang Puck: Are you enjoying an overabundant summer harvest? Put it in your soup pot!," 31 July 2019 Add for vegetable crunch Most folks don’t end up cooking cucumbers and for good reason: Their raw crunch is a great addition to so many meals. — Kari Sonde, Washington Post, "Tips and recipes to make the most of your cucumbers," 18 July 2019 Part of the cruciferous vegetable family, the sprouts' cousins include cauliflower, kale, broccoli, cabbage, collard greens, and bok choy. — Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health.com, "7 Health Benefits of Brussels Sprouts," 9 July 2019 It's located on a 20-acre plot of land in Sarrians, with an orchard, vegetable garden, basketball court, tennis court, and fountains on-site, according to its website. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas's Reported Wedding Venue Is on Airbnb," 27 June 2019 The final sale of the season, offered by the Dos Valles Garden Club, will include garden tools and fixtures contributed by club members, plus vegetable seedlings, house plants, trees, herbs, perennials, succulents and native plants. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Fallbrook Democratic Club receives Club of the Year Award," 20 June 2019 However, earwigs also unfortunately eat ornamental and vegetable plants, particularly dahlias, zinnias, butterfly bush, hollyhocks, lettuce, strawberries, potatoes, roses, and seedling beans and beets, as well as the silk of sweet corn. — The Editors, Good Housekeeping, "How to Control Earwigs in Your Garden and Keep Them From Getting in Your House," 27 July 2018 The menu divides into three sections, the first devoted to exotic and cool starters, the second more savory and vegetable-centric, the third spotlighting a few proteins. — Stephanie Burt, Condé Nast Traveler, "28 Best Restaurants in Charleston," 2 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vegetable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for vegetable
vegetable
noun
English Language Learners Definition of vegetable
: a plant or plant part that is eaten as food
sometimes offensive
: a person who is unable to talk, move, etc., because of severe brain damage
vegetable
adjective
veg·e·ta·ble
| \ ˈvej-tə-bəl
, ˈve-jə-tə-\
, ˈve-jə-tə-\
Kids Definition of vegetable
(Entry 1 of 2)
: containing or made from plants or parts of plants
vegetable oil
vegetable
nounKids Definition of vegetable (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: a plant or plant part (as lettuce, broccoli, or peas) grown for use as food and eaten raw or cooked usually as part of a meal
vegetable
adjective
veg·e·ta·ble
| \ ˈvej-tə-bəl, ˈvej-ət-ə-
\
\
Medical Definition of vegetable
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: of, relating to, constituting, or growing like plants
b
: consisting of plants
2
: made or obtained from plants or plant products
vegetable
nounMedical Definition of vegetable (Entry 2 of 2)