vegetate

[ vej-i-teyt ]

verb (used without object)

, veg·e·tat·ed, veg·e·tat·ing.

1. to grow in, or as in, the manner of a plant.
2. to be passive or unthinking; to do nothing:

   to lie on the beach and vegetate.

3. Pathology. to grow, or increase by growth, as an excrescence.

vegetate

/ ˈvɛdʒɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to grow like a plant; sprout
2. to lead a life characterized by monotony, passivity, or mental inactivity
3. pathol (of a wart, polyp, etc) to develop fleshy outgrowths

Word History and Origins

Origin of vegetate¹

1595–1605; < Latin vegetātus (past participle of vegetāre to quicken, enliven), equivalent to veget ( us ) lively (originally past participle of vegēre to give vigor) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vegetate¹

C17: from Late Latin vegetāre to invigorate

Example Sentences

They have been found living along the vegetated banks of Osbaldwick Beck which runs through the park, following a seven-year project to improve the wildlife habitat in the area.

From BBC

The researchers used satellite data to look for green, vegetated areas within dryland areas, indicating an oasis, and tracked changes over 25 years.

From Science Daily

Crews will be installing steel girders — long boxes of reinforced concrete — over the freeway in order to build the vegetated bridge, according to Caltrans.

From Los Angeles Times

Crews will install girders over the freeway to support the crossing, a vegetated bridge that will reconnect wildlife habitat, officials said.

From Los Angeles Times

These vegetated surfaces on the rooftops of buildings absorb excess storm water, reduce energy use by insulating buildings, and cool neighborhoods, tempering urban heat islands, while also creating urban habitats for plants, pollinators, and wildlife.

From Science Daily