Definitions
01edible plant
A1 · Beginner Countable noun Cooking
n. a plant or part of a plant that you eat as food, like a carrot, potato, or onion.
n. 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.”
02person with brain damage
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine Informal · Vulgar
n. a very unkind way to describe someone who cannot think, speak, or move because of a serious brain injury.
n. 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.
03relating to plants
B2 · Upper Intermediate Science Technical
adj. related to plants or made from plants.
adj. 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.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Plastic pollution is one of the defining legacies of our modern way of life, but it is now so widespread it is even finding its way into fruit and vegetables as they grow.” “Forced rhubarb – a vegetable deprived of sunlight for extra sweetness – has been eaten in Yorkshire since the 19th Century.” “Tinned and frozen fruits and vegetables tend to be seen as less nutritious than fresh versions.” “Research by Angelina Frankowska, who studies sustainability at the University of Manchester, recently found that asparagus eaten in the UK has the highest carbon footprint compared to any other vegetable eaten in the country, with 5.3kg of carbon dioxide being produced for every kilogram of asparagus, mainly because much of it is imported by air from Peru.” Etymology
From Middle English vegetable, from Old French vegetable, from Latin vegetābilis (“able to live and grow”), derived from vegetāre (“to enliven”). Displaced Old English wyrt and ofett. Related to vigil, vigour, vajra, and waker.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/vegetable
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0