veg|e|ta|ble

veg|e|ta|ble «VEHJ tuh buhl, VEHJ uh-», noun, adjective.

–n.

1. a plant whose fruit, seeds, shoots or stems, leaves, roots, or other parts are used for food. Peas, corn, lettuce, tomatoes, and beets are vegetables.

2. the part of such a plant which is used for food.

3. any plant; living organism belonging to the vegetable kingdom.

4. Figurative. a person who lives a vegetative existence; dull, passive person: »

It describes particularly the mental deprivations intended to turn intelligent men into vegetables (Manchester Guardian Weekly).

–ad.

1. of plants; having something to do with plants: »

vegetable substances, vegetable life, the vegetable kingdom.

2. of or made from vegetables: »

vegetable soup, a vegetable dinner.

3. Figurative. like that of a vegetable; uneventful; dull: »

a vegetable existence.

4. living and growing in the manner of a plant or organism having the lowest form of life; vegetative.

╂[< Middle French vegetable, learned borrowing from Late Latin vegetābilis vivifying, refreshing < Latin vegetāre enliven, arouse < vegetus vigorous]