DictionaryAI

vegetable

VEJ-tuh-buhl/ˈvɛd͡ʒ.tə.bl̩/

Pluralvegetables

6 meanings of vegetable

Practice

  1. 1
    food itemnouncountable
    A plant or part of a plant, such as a carrot, potato, or cabbage, that people cook or eat as food.

    Add the chopped vegetables to the simmering broth.

    Carrots are my favorite vegetable.

    UsageSay vegetables for the food in general: eat your vegetables.

  2. 2
    of food plantsadjective
    Having to do with vegetables, or made from them.

    We ordered a big bowl of vegetable soup.

    Dad planted a small vegetable garden behind the house.

    UsageSay vegetable soup, with no s.

  3. 3
    of plantsadjective
    Having to do with plants, or coming from them.

    Vegetable oil is pressed from seeds and nuts.

    The rope was woven from strong vegetable fibers.

    Similarbotanical

    Oppositeanimal, mineral

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    plant (any kind)nounarchaiccountable
    A plant of any kind, such as a tree, flower, fern, or moss.
    That he might ascertain whether any of the cloths of ancient Egypt were made of hemp, M. Dutrochet has examined with the microscope the weavable filaments of this last vegetable.
    1837, The Edinburgh New Philosophical JournalHere, vegetable means a plant.

    Similarplant

    Oppositeanimal

    Note
  2. 5
    brain damagenounderogatoryfigurativelycountable
    An insulting word for someone who cannot move or respond because of serious brain damage.

    After the crash, doctors warned that he might remain a vegetable for life.

    She hated hearing the nurses call her brother a vegetable.

    Similarcabbage

    Note
  3. 6
    nounslang
    An explosive mine dropped into the sea from a plane, in old air-force slang.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of vegetable apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin vegetabilis, meaning 'able to live and grow', from vegetare, 'to enliven'.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts