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ˈvɛdʒtəb(ə)l,
ˈvɛdʒɪtə-/
n.
- a plant or part of a plant used as food.
- informal, derogatory a person who is incapable of normal mental or physical activity, especially through brain damage.
▸a person with a dull or inactive life.
Etymology
ME (in the sense ‘growing as a plant’): from OFr., or from late L. vegetabilis ‘animating’, from L. vegetare (see vegetate).