ˈvejəˌtāt, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Medieval Latin vegetatus, past participle of vegetare to grow, flourish — more at vegetable
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to grow as a plant or after the fashion of plants
the algae usually vegetate vigorously — Florence Chase
b. : to produce vegetation
fields permitted to vegetate for a given time
c. : to propagate vegetatively as distinguished from sexually
a bacterial growth … was vegetating along with the fungus — Chronica Botanica
2. : to lead a passive existence without initiative or exertion of body or mind : do little but eat and grow
a dull, ambitionless, vegetating individual — J.A.Brussel
left to vegetate back to a robust physical health — William Manchester
vegetate in luxurious subtropical surroundings — Jack Westeyn
perfectly content to vegetate , to continue leading a humdrum, uneventful life — A.H. & Ruth Verrill
3. : to grow exuberantly : produce fleshy or warty outgrowths
a vegetating tumor
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to cause to grow
2. : to establish vegetation in or on : provide the vegetation of
vegetate a hillside or ravine
vegetate a meadow with native grasses
dominant types of trees that vegetate a coral island — T.C.Roughley