vegetate

American  

[vej-i-teyt] / ˈvɛdʒ ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used without object)

vegetated, vegetating

1. to grow in, or as in, the manner of a plant.

2. to be passive or unthinking; to do nothing.

   to lie on the beach and vegetate.

3. Pathology. to grow, or increase by growth, as an excrescence.

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vegetate British  

/ ˈvɛdʒɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to grow like a plant; sprout

2. to lead a life characterized by monotony, passivity, or mental inactivity

3. pathol (of a wart, polyp, etc) to develop fleshy outgrowths

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Etymology

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 -ate ¹

Example Sentences

He used to come home from a hard practice and vegetate on the couch, shattered by exhaustion.

From The Wall Street Journal

The scientists noted that on the northeastern side of Owens Lake, the Keeler Dunes transitioned during the last century from a “largely vegetated dune system” to one that releases more dust.

From Los Angeles Times

They have been found living along the vegetated banks of Osbaldwick Beck which runs through the park, following a seven-year project to improve the wildlife habitat in the area.

From BBC

The researchers used satellite data to look for green, vegetated areas within dryland areas, indicating an oasis, and tracked changes over 25 years.

From Science Daily

Crews will be installing steel girders — long boxes of reinforced concrete — over the freeway in order to build the vegetated bridge, according to Caltrans.

From Los Angeles Times