veg·e·ta·tive | \ ˈve-jə-ˌtā-tiv 
\
\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 : leading a dull, monotonous, or passive existence : vegetable entry 2 sense 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 nucleus
b : promoting plant growth
the vegetative properties of soil
c : of, relating to, or involving propagation by nonsexual processes or methods
5a : autonomic sense 1
b : 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
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Examples of vegetative in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Even in areas that evolved with fire, flames that burn too hot can destroy vegetative cover, allowing sand to move with the winds.
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Matthew Abbott, Environment, "Another Australian wildfire ignites—in one of its most unique ecosystems," 18 Dec. 2020 He was imprisoned for just over 18 months and in that time officials say he was tortured, left in a vegetative state with severe brain damage.
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Eric Shawn, Fox News, "On Otto Warmbier's birthday, his legacy lives on," 14 Dec. 2020 The death penalty can also be imposed in cases where the woman is left in a vegetative state, for repeat offenders, or the rape of a girl under the age of 12.
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Esha Mitra, CNN, "India's rape laws don't cover transgender people. They say it's putting them at risk," 8 Dec. 2020 To create hedges, Ms. Johnsen suggests using traditional privet and arborvitaes combined with trees such as the deer-resistant copper beech, which can grow into a type of vegetative screening.
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Hannah Selinger, WSJ, "For Privacy, Homeowners Hedge Their Bets," 19 Nov. 2020 The child was put in intensive care and went into a vegetative state.
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Imelda García, Dallas News, "Years after son’s death, man walks from San Antonio to North Texas bearing cross in hopes of closure," 13 Nov. 2020 Parish work crews had hauled more than 475 cubic yards of vegetative debris to disposal sites by Oct. 30, as well.
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Andrew Canulette, NOLA.com, "Hurricane Zeta rips through St. Tammany, widespread power outages follow Cat. 2 storm," 1 Nov. 2020 The existing debris is just part of the vegetative mess in coastal Alabama that was damaged from Hurricane Sally.
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al, "Tree trunks, limbs everywhere: Hurricane Sally’s debris will ‘exceed Ivan by quite a bit’," 16 Oct. 2020 Three weeks ago, 33-year-old Hunter Kristian Smith suffered a massive brain injury at his home in National City and has been in a vegetative state ever since at Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista.
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San Diego Union-Tribune, "San Diego mom launches campaign to fly brain-injured son to Australia," 15 Oct. 2020
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for vegetative
vegetative
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of vegetative
: of or relating to plants
See the full definition for vegetative in the English Language Learners Dictionary
vegetative
adjectiveveg·e·ta·tive | \ ˈve-jə-ˌtā-tiv \
\Kids Definition of vegetative
: of, relating to, or functioning in nutrition and growth rather than reproduction
vegetative cells
vegetative
adjectiveveg·e·ta·tive | \ ˈvej-ə-ˌtāt-iv \
\Medical 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 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
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Time Traveler for vegetative
The first known use of vegetative was in the 14th century
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