noun

vegetable

VEHJ-tuh-buhl

noun

A plant, or part of a plant, grown to be eaten — such as the leaves, roots, or stems — that isn't classified as a fruit, grain, herb, or spice.

"Carrots, spinach, and broccoli are all vegetables."

"She grows her own vegetables in a backyard garden."

adj

Relating to plants or to vegetables specifically.

"The soup had a rich vegetable broth as its base."

How to Use Vegetable

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA plant food like carrots, broccoli, or spinach — anything that isn't a fruit, grain, herb, or spice.

Common pairings

fresh vegetables root vegetable vegetable garden vegetable oil

vegetables plural

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Can you complete this real example?

Carrots, spinach, and broccoli are all _____.

From Latin vegetabilis ("able to grow, thriving"), from vegetare ("to enliven") — related distantly to words like "vigor" and "vigil."

able fable cable table sable gable viable liable stable unable usable enable