vegetative

[ vej-i-tey-tiv ]

adjective

1. growing or developing as or like plants; vegetating.
2. of, relating to, or concerned with vegetation or vegetable growth.
3. of or relating to the plant kingdom.
4. noting the parts of a plant not specialized for reproduction.
5. (of reproduction) asexual.
6. denoting or pertaining to those bodily functions that are performed unconsciously or involuntarily.
7. having the power to produce or support growth in plants:

   vegetative mold.

8. characterized by a lack of activity; inactive; passive:

   a vegetative state.

vegetative

/ ˈvɛdʒɪtətɪv /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting the nonreproductive parts of a plant, i.e. the stems, leaves, and roots, or growth that does not involve the reproductive parts
2. (of reproduction) characterized by asexual processes
3. of or relating to functions such as digestion, growth, and circulation rather than sexual reproduction
4. (of a style of living) dull, stagnant, unthinking, or passive

vegetative

/ vĕj′ĭ-tā′tĭv /

1. Relating to or characteristic of plants or their growth.
2. Relating to vegetative reproduction.
3. Relating to feeding and growth rather than reproduction, as in the mobile phase of plasmodial slime molds.
4. Relating to an impaired level of brain function in which a person responds reflexively to certain sensory stimuli but demonstrates no cognitive function.

Derived Forms

• ˈvegetatively, adverb
• ˈvegetativeness, noun

Other Words From

• vege·tative·ly adverb
• vege·tative·ness noun
• non·vege·tative adjective
• non·vege·tative·ly adverb
• non·vege·tative·ness noun
• non·vege·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vegetative¹

1350–1400; Middle English vegetatyf < Medieval Latin vegetātīvus. See vegetate, -ive

Example Sentences

Freeborn said two years of relatively heavy rainfall had spurred thick vegetative growth that has now dried and become ample fuel for wildfire.

From Los Angeles Times

Crops that reproduce vegetatively, such as bananas, will be maintained.

From Science Daily

In addition, the research team found that remaining in a vegetative state was an unlikely outcome by six-months after injury.

From Science Daily

Unlike fungal spores, which serve a reproductive role, bacterial spores have a protective protein shield that enables bacteria to survive while in a vegetative state.

From Science Daily

He said gardeners can buy a pack of green onions from the store and use the green vegetative growth for cooking before planting just the bulbs.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abundant
• arable
• fruitful
• lush
• productive
• rich