Merriam-Webster / MedlinePlus

Medical Dictionary

MedlinePlus Health Information Merriam-Webster OnLine

Main Entry: veg·e·ta·tive
Pronunciation: \ˈvej-ə-ˌtāt-iv\
Function: adjective
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: 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>
veg·e·ta·tive·ly adverb

Search here for another word:
Search Merriam-Webster OnLine


Pronunciation Key

\ schwa \ as a in abut
\ primary stressschwa secondary stressschwa \ as u in abut
\ schwa \ as e in kitten
\ schwar \ as ur/er in further
\ a \ as a in ash
\ schwa \ as a in ace
\ ä \ as o in mop
\ au dot \ as ou in out
\ b \ as in baby
\ ch \ as ch in chin
\ d \ as d in did
\ e \ as e in bet
\ primary stresse macron secondary stresse macron \ as ea in easy
\ e macron \ as y in easy
\ f \ as f in fifty
\ g \ as g in go
\ h \ as h in hat
\ i \ as i in hit
\ i macron \ as i in ice
\ j \ as j in job
\ k \ as k in kin
\ k underlined \ as ch in ich dien
\ l \ as l in lily
\ m \ as m in murmur
\ n \ as n in own
\ eng \ as ng in sing
\ o macron \ as o in go
\ o dot \ as aw in law
\ o doti \ as oy in boy
\ p \ as p in pepper
\ r \ as r in red
\ s \ as s in less>
\ sh \ as sh in shy
\ t \ as t in tie
\ th \ as th in thin
\ th \ as th in the
\ ü \ as oo in loot
\ u dot \ as oo in foot
\ v \ as v in vivid
\ w \ as w in away
\ y \ as y in yet
\ yü \ as you in youth
\ yu dot \ as u in curable
\ z \ as z in zone
\ zh \ as si in vision


© by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated