vegetable
gb/vˈɛd͡ʒtəbəl/ us/vˈɛd͡ʒtəbəl/
A1
English
~ 2900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Edible plant or plant part
A plant or part of a plant that people eat, like carrots, beans, or spinach.
Usage pattern:
[someone] eats [a vegetable]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'vegetable' with 'fruit', but in cooking, some fruits like tomatoes are considered vegetables.
Synonyms
produce (Refers generally to fresh fruits and vegetables sold as food.)
|
greens (Informal term, usually refers to leafy vegetables.)
Antonyms
meat (Animal flesh used as food, contrasting with plant-based foods.)
Collocations
fresh vegetables
|green vegetables
|raw vegetables
|vegetable soup
|vegetable garden
Themes
food
|daily life
|health
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She bought fresh vegetables from the farmer's market.
- Spinach is my favorite vegetable.
- You should eat more vegetables for better health.
- The soup is made with seasonal vegetables.
- They grow their own vegetables in the backyard.
Learner examples
- I like to eat green vegetables.
- Carrots are a healthy vegetable.
- We have tomatoes and beans in our garden.
- He eats vegetables every day.
- This salad has many vegetables.
Noun
informal
B2
entity
2
Person in vegetative state
A person who is alive but cannot move or think because of serious brain damage.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a vegetable
Common mistake:
Learners may use this meaning without realizing it can be offensive and should be avoided in sensitive contexts.
Synonyms
coma patient (More clinical term for someone in an unconscious state; not always permanent.)
Antonyms
conscious person (Someone who is awake and aware.)
Collocations
left a vegetable
|like a vegetable
Themes
health
|medicine
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After the accident, he was left a vegetable for the rest of his life.
- They said she would be a vegetable if she survived.
- He has been like a vegetable since the stroke.
Learner examples
- He was a vegetable after the crash.
- She is like a vegetable now.
- The man became a vegetable after the injury.
Grammar
Dictionary form
vegetable
IPA
GB/vˈɛd͡ʒtəbəl/
US/vˈɛd͡ʒtəbəl/
Syllables & stress
ve - get - able (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ve)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: vegetable
- Plural: vegetable, vegetables
Word family
Forms
vegetables
noun
Core family
vegetarian
noun A2
Related words
veggie
noun
vegetation
noun B1
Advanced or less common
vegetate
verb
vegetative
adjective
vegetarianism
noun
Expressions
fresh vegetables
1/fɹˈɛʃ vˈɛd͡ʒtəbəlz/
fixed phrase
Recently picked vegetables
Vegetables that are new and not frozen or canned.
Examples
- The market sells fresh vegetables every morning.
- Fresh vegetables taste better than frozen ones.
green vegetable
1/ɡɹˈin vˈɛd͡ʒtəbəl/
fixed phrase
Green-colored edible plant
A vegetable that is green in color, like spinach or broccoli.
Examples
- Spinach is a healthy green vegetable.
- Eat more green vegetables for vitamins.
root vegetable
1/ɹˈut vˈɛd͡ʒtəbəl/
fixed phrase
Underground edible plant root
A plant that grows under the ground and is eaten, like carrots or potatoes.
Examples
- Carrots and beets are root vegetables.
- Root vegetables are great for roasting.
vegetable garden
1/vˈɛd͡ʒtəbəl ɡˈɑɹdən/
fixed phrase
Garden for growing vegetables
A part of land where people grow vegetables.
Examples
- We have a small vegetable garden behind the house.
- She spends weekends working in her vegetable garden.
vegetable oil
1/vˈɛd͡ʒtəbəl ˈɔɪl/
fixed phrase
Cooking oil from plants
Oil made from plants, used for cooking.
Examples
- Fry the onions in vegetable oil.
- Vegetable oil is often used for baking.