Vegetable Definition, Examples & Common Types

Meaning 1：edible plant part (vegetable)

vegetable 🔊

/ˈvɛdʒtəbəl/

A part of a plant that people eat, like roots, leaves, or flowers, such as carrots, spinach, or broccoli.

Fresh vegetable pieces on cutting board with carrot broccoli and tomato

edible plant part 🔊

➕

/ˈɛdəbəl plænt pɑːrt/

A vegetable is a part of a plant that is eaten by humans as food, such as roots (carrots), leaves (spinach), stems (celery), or flowers (broccoli).

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'vegetabilis' meaning 'growing', from 'vegetare' (to enliven).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a 'vege-table' — a table full of growing plants that you eat.

📖 Example

My mom always says half your plate should be colorful vegetables like broccoli and carrots. 🔊 My mom always says half your plate should be colorful vegetables like broccoli and carrots.

🔗 Collocations

fresh vegetables – vegetables that have not been preserved, often recently harvested

leafy vegetables – vegetables with edible green leaves, such as spinach and lettuce

root vegetables – vegetables that grow underground, like carrots, potatoes, and onions

🔄 Synonyms

produce (n.) – agricultural products collectively, especially fruits and vegetables

greens (n.) – green-leafed vegetables

veggies (n.) – informal term for vegetables

🚫 Antonyms

meat (n.) – animal flesh used as food

fruit (n.) – the sweet product of a tree or plant that contains seeds

🌱 Derivatives

vegetarian (n./adj.) – a person who does not eat meat; relating to such a diet

vegetable oil (n.) – oil extracted from plants, used in cooking

veggie (n./adj.) – informal for vegetable or vegetarian

📖 Cultural Story

Originally meant any plant in Latin; entered English via Old French. The modern sense of edible plant part dates from the 15th century.