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 methods2: relating to, composed of, or suggesting vegetation3: of or relating to the division of nature comprising the plant kingdom4 a: autonomic 1 b: characterized by, resulting from, or being a state in which there is total loss of cognitive function and in which only involuntary bodily functions (as breathing or blinking of the eyes) are sustained5: vegetable 3

— veg·e·ta·tive·ly adverb

— veg·e·ta·tive·ness noun