vegetative
adjective
veg·e·ta·tive
| \ ˈve-jə-ˌtā-tiv
\
\
Definition of vegetative
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
4a(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
5a
: 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
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Examples of vegetative in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
People can lose the ability to walk, fall into a coma, and then be in a persistent vegetative state. — Ariel Loop As Told To Korin Miller, SELF, "This Is What It’s Like When Your 4-Month-Old Catches Measles," 26 Aug. 2019 The 42-year-old had sustained severe brain damage following a car accident in 2008 and had been living in a vegetative state. — Antoine Crouin, Barbara Wojazer And Kara Fox, CNN, "Frenchman Vincent Lambert dies after years-long life support battle," 11 July 2019 Warmbier died shortly after being sent back home to the U.S. in a vegetative state in June 2017. — NBC News, "North Korea accuses freed Australian student of spying, spreading propaganda," 6 July 2019 The 22-year-old died days after being returned to the U.S. in a vegetative state in 2017. — Jim Mustian, chicagotribune.com, "Otto Warmbier’s parents file claim for seized North Korean cargo ship, seeking to collect on judgment in wrongful death case," 6 July 2019 Then 22, Warmbier returned home to Ohio in a vegetative state -- blind, deaf, and having sustained severe brain damage from his year in detention. — Lindsay Isaac And Matthew Robinson, CNN, "Australian student expelled from North Korea for 'committing anti-DPRK incitement'," 6 July 2019 Another victim, 28-year-old Ashanti Jordan, a security guard at Broward Health Medical Center, has been in a vegetative state since Dec. 28, when she was struck while riding a scooter on the south end of downtown. — John Maines, sun-sentinel.com, "74 accidents and 1 death later, Fort Lauderdale weighs new e-scooter law," 24 June 2019 The facility made national headlines last year when a 29-year-old resident in a long-term vegetative state gave birth to a baby. — Greg Hanlon, PEOPLE.com, "Maggots Found on Man at Facility Where Incapacitated Woman Gave Birth, State Moves to Take License," 17 June 2019 In the episode’s climax, the robot makes the decision to unplug Ashley from life support, arguing that her human self wouldn’t want to live in a vegetative state. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "Black Mirror: ‘Rachel, Jack, and Ashley Too’ Is a Fascinating Jumble," 5 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vegetative.' 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 vegetative
vegetative
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of vegetative
: of or relating to plants
See the full definition for vegetative in the English Language Learners Dictionary
vegetative
adjective
veg·e·ta·tive
| \ ˈve-jə-ˌtā-tiv
\
\
Kids Definition of vegetative
: of, relating to, or functioning in nutrition and growth rather than reproduction
vegetative cells
vegetative
adjective
veg·e·ta·tive
| \ ˈvej-ə-ˌtāt-iv
\
\
Medical Definition of vegetative
1a(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