vegetation

[vej-i-tey-shuhn]

noun

1. all the plants or plant life of a place, taken as a whole.

   the vegetation of the Nile valley.

2. the act or process of vegetating.

3. a dull existence; life devoid of mental or social activity.

   Synonyms: lethargy, sloth, idleness, inactivity

4. Pathology.,  a morbid growth, or excrescence.

vegetation

/ ˌvɛdʒɪˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. plant life as a whole, esp the plant life of a particular region

2. the process of vegetating

3. pathol any abnormal growth, excrescence, etc

4. a vegetative existence

vegetation

1. The plants of an area or a region; plant life.

2. An abnormal bodily accretion, especially a clot composed largely of fused blood platelets, fibrin, and sometimes bacteria, that adheres to a diseased heart valve.

Other Word Forms

• vegetational adjective
• vegetationless adjective
• nonvegetation noun
• prevegetation noun
• undervegetation noun
• vegetatious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vegetation¹

1555–65; < Medieval Latin vegetātiōn- (stem of vegetātiō ), equivalent to vegetāt- ( vegetate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The larvae among the species are aquatic, living among dense vegetation in wetlands, while the adults fly from spring until early August.

From BBC

The storms bring the chance of lightning-sparked fires in areas with high temperatures and dry vegetation.

From Los Angeles Times

The company has also increased the trimming of trees and other vegetation growing near its equipment.

From Los Angeles Times

Jaynes said Gaon is a private man who obtained a biology degree in college and allows the vegetation in his front yard to overgrow so he can observe butterflies and other insects.

From Los Angeles Times

A stash of firearms and ammunition were also found at the campsite, which is surrounded by dense vegetation.

From BBC

Related Words

• flora 
• greenery