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 : vegetable 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 nucleusb : promoting plant growth the vegetative properties of soilc : of, relating to, or involving propagation by nonsexual processes or methods
5a : autonomic 1b : 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
vegetatively
adverbvegetativeness
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Recent Examples of vegetative from the Web
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Luca experienced a traumatic brain injury at birth with an initial prognosis of persistent vegetative state.
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Vegetative state and minimally conscious patients are among the most neglected groups in our health care system, according to several people who spoke at the conference.
These 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.
Origin and Etymology of vegetative
Middle English vegetatif “promoting growth, of the lowest species of soul in Aristotelian philosophy (characteristic of plants), of the plant kingdom,” borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French vegetative, borrowed from Medieval Latin vegetātīvus, from Late Latin vegetātus, past participle of vegetāre “to live, grow” + Latin -īvus -ive — more at vegetate
VEGETATIVE Defined for English Language Learners
vegetative
playDefinition of vegetative for English Language Learners
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: of or relating to plants
VEGETATIVE Defined for Kids
vegetative
playDefinition of vegetative for Students
: of, relating to, or functioning in nutrition and growth rather than reproduction vegetative cells
Medical Dictionary
vegetative
playMedical 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 nucleusb: 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
vegetatively
adverbLearn More about vegetative
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See words that rhyme with vegetative Spanish Central: Translation of vegetative Nglish: Translation of vegetative for Spanish speakers
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