vegetative

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈvɛdʒəteɪtɪv/ UK /ˈvɛdʒɪtetɪv/ See IPA manual

Freq #37500

Meanings

1

adj
relating to plant growth or to asexual propagation from stems, roots, leaves, or other nonreproductive parts

The gardener used vegetative propagation to produce identical plants from cuttings.
2

adj
relating to basic involuntary functions such as growth, nutrition, and circulation

Breathing and digestion are among the body's vegetative functions.
3

adj
passive, inactive, or involving little conscious thought

Months of isolation had reduced his routine to a dull, vegetative existence.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to plant growth or... nonreproductiveasexual

2 adj · relating to basic... autonomic involuntary

3 adj · passive, inactive, or... passive inert torpid

Opposites

reproductive active conscious

Word family

Derived forms vegetativelyvegetativeness

Related forms vegetate vegetation propagation autonomic

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

vegetative cell
a body cell that does not function as a reproductive cell

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Through Middle French vegetatif from Medieval Latin vegetativus, based on Latin vegetare, 'to enliven, animate, or cause to grow.' The botanical and physiological senses preserve the older idea of life's basic growth and nourishment; the passive sense arose when mere biological existence was contrasted with active thought.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# vegetative

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈvɛdʒəteɪtɪv/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈvɛdʒɪtetɪv/
**Frequency rank:** 37500

## Meanings
1. relating to plant growth or to asexual propagation from stems, roots, leaves, or other nonreproductive parts
2. relating to basic involuntary functions such as growth, nutrition, and circulation
3. passive, inactive, or involving little conscious thought

## Examples
- The gardener used vegetative propagation to produce identical plants from cuttings.
- Breathing and digestion are among the body's vegetative functions.
- Months of isolation had reduced his routine to a dull, vegetative existence.

## Synonyms
- nonreproductive
- asexual
- autonomic
- involuntary
- passive
- inert

## Antonyms
- reproductive
- active
- conscious

## Derived Forms
- vegetatively
- vegetativeness

## Related Forms
- vegetate
- vegetation
- propagation
- autonomic

## Etymology
Through Middle French vegetatif from Medieval Latin vegetativus, based on Latin vegetare, 'to enliven, animate, or cause to grow.' The botanical and physiological senses preserve the older idea of life's basic growth and nourishment; the passive sense arose when mere biological existence was contrasted with active thought.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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