adjective

1. of, or having the nature of, plants in general the vegetable kingdom
2. of, having the nature of, made from, consisting of, or produced by edible vegetables

Etymology: ME < ML vegetabilis, vegetative, capable of growth < LL, animating, enlivening < L vegetare: see vegetate

noun

1. broadly, any plant, as distinguished from animal or inorganic matter
2. 1. any herbaceous plant that is eaten whole or in part, raw or cooked
   2. the edible part of such a plant, as the root (e.g., a carrot), tuber (a potato), seed (a pea), fruit (a tomato), stem (celery), or leaf (lettuce)
3. a person thought of as like a vegetable, as because of leading a dull, unthinking existence or because of having lost consciousness, the use of the mind, etc.

Etymology: < ML vegetabilia (pl.), growing things, vegetables