vegetable
vegetable
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "vegetable" is /ˈvɛdʒ.tə.bəl/ or /ˈvɛdʒ.ə.tə.bəl/.
For /ˈvɛdʒ.tə.bəl/:
/ˈvɛdʒ/
/tə/
/bəl/
Word Form Variations
Noun: vegetable (singular), vegetables (plural)
Adjective: vegetable (used attributively, e.g., "vegetable oil," "vegetable garden")
Verb: (No direct verb form in common use for the plant/food. "Vegetate" exists, meaning to grow or live in a dull, inactive way, but it's a distinct verb with a figurative sense).
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A plant or part of a plant used as food, typically savory rather than sweet, and eaten as part of a meal.
Synonyms: greens, produce, plant food, edibles, crudités (if raw)
Antonyms: fruit, meat, grain, dairy (as contrasting food categories)
Definition 2: The edible part of a plant, typically excluding fruits, seeds, and fungi.
Synonyms: produce, plant matter, plant-based food
Antonyms: fruit, seed, nut
Definition 3: (Informal, derogatory) A person who is inactive, dull, or unresponsive, especially due to a severe brain injury or illness, and who lacks conscious thought or movement.
Synonyms: invalid, unresponsive person, incapacitated person, drone (if inactive)
Antonyms: active person, lively individual, alert person, functional person
Adjective
Definition 1: Consisting of, derived from, or relating to plants or plant matter.
Synonyms: plant-based, herbal, botanical, vegan (if food-related)
Antonyms: animal, meat, dairy, synthetic, chemical
Definition 2: (Informal, derogatory) Characterized by extreme inactivity or lack of mental engagement.
Synonyms: inactive, dull, inert, unresponsive, comatose
Antonyms: active, alert, lively, responsive, sharp
Examples of Use
Books:
"She carefully sorted the fresh vegetables from her garden: plump tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and vibrant carrots." (Fictional example from a domestic novel or gardening book)
"The book offers a comprehensive guide to a plant-based diet, emphasizing the nutritional benefits of various vegetables." (From a non-fiction book on health or veganism)
"He lay in a coma for weeks, a mere vegetable, before miraculously beginning to respond." (Fictional example, derogatory informal use, from a medical drama or thriller)
Newspapers:
"Local farmers are concerned about the rising cost of fertilizers, which impacts the production of essential vegetables." (Daily Nation)
"Health experts urge Kenyans to consume at least five portions of fruits and vegetables daily for improved well-being." (The Standard)
"New research explores how genetically modified vegetables could enhance food security in arid regions." (Business Daily Africa)
Online Publications:
"Our ultimate guide to roasting winter vegetables for a delicious and healthy side dish." (An article on a cooking blog, e.g., Food52.com)
"Are you getting enough greens? The importance of incorporating more leafy vegetables into your diet." (An article on a health and nutrition website, e.g., Healthline.com)
"This viral video shows a dog who refuses to eat any vegetables, much to its owner's dismay." (A humorous animal content site, e.g., The Dodo)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "I've got a bad feeling about this." (Star Wars, 1977) - This implies a precarious situation, perhaps like a person's life hanging by a thread, almost a "vegetable" state.
Television Series: "For your next challenge, you must prepare a gourmet meal using only root vegetables from this mystery basket." (Instructions on a cooking competition show, e.g., MasterChef)
Song Lyrics: "I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told. I have squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises. All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest." (Simon & Garfunkel, "The Boxer," 1969) - This relates to living a somewhat unfulfilled or "vegetative" existence, though not explicitly stating it.
Video Games: "Your character needs to collect vegetables from the farm to complete the village quest." (In-game objective in a farming or RPG, e.g., Stardew Valley)
Podcasts: "In this episode, we delve into the surprising history of the potato, a humble root vegetable that changed the world." (A podcast on food history, e.g., Gastropod)
General Public Discourse:
"Did you buy enough vegetables for dinner?" (A common question in a household)
"I really need to eat more fresh vegetables for my health." (A common personal goal)
"My kids refuse to eat their vegetables; it's a constant battle." (A common parental complaint)
"He's been in a coma for months, just a vegetable." (An informal, often harsh, description of a severely incapacitated person)
"Which is your favorite vegetable, carrots or spinach?" (A common question about food preference)
"We buy our vegetables fresh from the market every Saturday." (A common shopping habit in Kenya)
"That's an ugly vegetable; what is it?" (A humorous comment on an unusual-looking piece of produce)
"She likes a garden that's neat and well-maintained, with neatly arranged flower beds and a dedicated vegetable patch." (Describing a garden)
10 Quotes Using Vegetable
"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad." (Common saying, widely attributed) - This implicitly refers to the culinary distinction of a vegetable.
"My favorite part of the meal is the vegetables, especially roasted carrots." (Lesser-known, but common relatable sentiment)
"He lay there, a mere vegetable, for weeks." (Common informal, often derogatory, description of an unresponsive person)
"You should always eat your vegetables, even if you don't like them." (Common parental advice, widely known)
"I'm a firm believer in the power of a healthy diet, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables." (Common public health message)
"If you want to be healthy, make sure half your plate is vegetables." (Common dietary recommendation)
"The secret to a long life is to eat more vegetables and less processed food." (Unknown, widely shared health advice)
"My kids won't eat their vegetables, no matter what I do." (Common relatable complaint from parents)
"A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust." (Gertrude Jekyll) - This relates to the growth of vegetables in a garden.
"The vegetable kingdom is very important to us." (Original quote, emphasizing biological significance)
Etymology
The word "vegetable" has a fascinating origin that connects it to the idea of "growth" and "life."
It comes from the Old French word vegetable.
This Old French word meant "living," "growing," or "having the capacity to grow."
Vegetable, in turn, came from the Latin word vegetābilis.
In Latin, vegetābilis meant "animating," "enlivening," or "able to grow." It was related to the Latin verb vegetāre, meaning "to enliven," "to quicken," or "to grow." This root also gives us "vigorous" and "vegetate."
So, the literal meaning embedded in the word is "something capable of growing and enlivening."
When "vegetable" first entered the English language, in the late 14th century (around 1390), its initial meaning was very broad: "a plant," "a plant part," or "something that grows like a plant." It encompassed all plant life, not just those eaten as food.
It was only later, by the mid-18th century, that the meaning of "vegetable" narrowed to specifically refer to "a plant (or part of one) cultivated for food" (excluding fruits and grains, which were already distinct categories). The derogatory sense of a person lacking mental activity developed from the idea of merely "vegetating" (living but not thriving or thinking).
Phrases + Idioms Containing Vegetable
To be a vegetable: (Informal, derogatory) To be in a comatose or unresponsive state due to severe brain injury.
Green vegetables: Leafy green vegetables, often emphasized for their health benefits.
Root vegetables: Vegetables that grow underground, like carrots, potatoes, and beets.
Mixed vegetables: A combination of different kinds of vegetables, often served as a side dish.
Vegetable oil: Oil extracted from plants, used in cooking or for other purposes.
Vegetable garden/patch: An area of land used for growing vegetables.
Eat your vegetables: A common parental instruction encouraging healthy eating.
A meat and three veg: (British informal) A traditional meal consisting of a main meat dish and three different vegetables.
Like a vegetable: To be very inactive or dull. (Synonymous with "inert" or "passive").
From farm to table: (Often implies fresh produce) Referring to a short supply chain for food, including vegetables.
The produce aisle: The section of a grocery store where fresh fruits and vegetables are sold. (Synonymous with the "vegetable" section).
To be unresponsive: To show no reaction or activity. (Synonymous with being a "vegetable" in the derogatory sense).
To be in a coma: A state of deep unconsciousness. (Synonymous with being a "vegetable").
Garden bounty: The plentiful harvest from a garden, including vegetables.
A well-balanced diet: A diet that includes all necessary food groups, with an emphasis on vegetables. (Synonymous with a diet rich in "vegetables").
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of vegetable from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
