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vegetate
[ vej-i-teyt ]
/ ˈvɛdʒ ɪˌteɪt /
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verb (used without object), veg·e·tat·ed, veg·e·tat·ing.
to grow in, or as in, the manner of a plant.
to be passive or unthinking; to do nothing: to lie on the beach and vegetate.
Pathology. to grow, or increase by growth, as an excrescence.
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Origin of vegetate
1595–1605; <Latin vegetātus (past participle of vegetāre to quicken, enliven), equivalent to veget(us) lively (originally past participle of vegēre to give vigor) + -ātus-ate1
Words nearby vegetate
vegetably, vegetal, vegetal pole, vegetarian, vegetarianism, vegetate, vegetation, vegetative, vegetative reproduction, veggie, veggieburger
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use vegetate in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for vegetate
vegetate
/ (ˈvɛdʒɪˌteɪt) /
verb (intr)
to grow like a plant; sprout
to lead a life characterized by monotony, passivity, or mental inactivity
pathol (of a wart, polyp, etc) to develop fleshy outgrowths
Word Origin for vegetate
C17: from Late Latin vegetāre to invigorate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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