# vegetable

/ˈvɛdʒtəbəɫ/ (US) · /vˈɛdʒɪtəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vegetable
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. edible plant

noun · CEFR A1

a plant or part of a plant that you eat as food, like a carrot, potato, or onion.

For teachers: a plant cultivated for an edible part, such as the root, leaf, or flower, distinguished from botanical fruits or grains in culinary contexts.

- You should try to eat at least one green vegetable with every meal.
- The chef insists on sourcing every vegetable locally to ensure the seasonal menu reflects the true flavours of the region.

### 2. person with brain damage

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Vulgar

a very unkind way to describe someone who cannot think, speak, or move because of a serious brain injury.

For teachers: a derogatory and highly offensive metaphor for a person in a persistent vegetative state who lacks cognitive function.

- After the terrible accident, he was left as a vegetable in the hospital.
- The family faced an agonizing decision regarding life support after the doctors concluded the patient would remain a vegetable indefinitely.

Usage: Always used as a disparaging label for a patient.

Teaching tip: This sense is extremely offensive; students should be aware of it to understand media or older texts but should never use it themselves.

### 3. relating to plants

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

related to plants or made from plants.

For teachers: pertaining to, derived from, or comprising plants; often used in biological or industrial contexts.

- The soap is made entirely from vegetable oils instead of animal fats.
- The scientist examined the vegetable matter found at the site to determine which species were native to the area centuries ago.

## Examples

- You should eat a green vegetable with every meal.
- The local market sells a wide variety of fresh, organic vegetable options grown by farmers in the valley.
- While botanists classify tomatoes as fruits, the culinary world treats them as a vegetable due to their savory flavor profile and common inclusion in main courses.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.