Main Entry: veg·e·ta·tive

Pronunciation: \ˈve-jə-ˌtā-tiv\

Function: adjective

Date: 14th century

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 : promoting plant growth <the vegetative properties of soil> c : of, relating to, or involving propagation by nonsexual processes or methods
2 : relating to, composed of, or suggesting vegetation
3 : of or relating to the division of nature comprising the plant kingdom
4 a : autonomic 1 b : characterized by, resulting from, or being a state in which there is total loss of cognitive functioning and in which only involuntary bodily functions (as breathing or blinking of the eyes) are sustained
5 : vegetable 3

— veg·e·ta·tive·ly adverb

— veg·e·ta·tive·ness noun