Definition of Vegetable
Quick Meaning of Vegetable
Plant food like carrots, lettuce, beans, or potatoes that you eat.
Detailed Definition of Vegetable
An edible plant or plant part, typically the leaves, roots, seeds, or stem.
How to Pronounce Vegetable
Stress pattern: Oooo (4-syllable word).
Tip: Four syllables: VEJ-tuh-bul. First syllable stressed, last is schwa sound.
Watch out: Some say 'vej-et-uh-bul' (four stressed); standard has stress on first only.
Origin and Etymology of Vegetable
From Latin vegetabilis, meaning capable of living or growing.
How to Use Vegetable in a Sentence
Each example shows “vegetable” with a CEFR level so learners can pick examples that match their fluency.
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“My child refuses to eat green vegetables.”
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“The farmer grows fresh vegetables in the garden.”
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“Vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals.”
Synonyms and Antonyms of Vegetable
Common Synonyms for Vegetable
Smart Synonyms for Vegetable — When to Use Each
- produce
- broader term including fruits and vegetables
- greens
- specifically leafy vegetables like spinach
- veg
- informal British short form of vegetable
Antonyms of Vegetable
Common Collocations with Vegetable
These phrases pair with “vegetable” in everyday English:
- green vegetables
- fresh vegetables
- root vegetables
Common Mistakes When Using Vegetable
Even fluent speakers slip up with “vegetable”. Here’s how to avoid the most common errors:
- ✗ Wrong: I eat vegetable every day.
- ✓ Correct: I eat vegetables every day.
- Why: Vegetables are countable; use plural with 'every day'.
- ✗ Wrong: These vegetable is fresh.
- ✓ Correct: These vegetables are fresh.
- Why: Plural subject needs plural verb and plural noun.
Words Confused With Vegetable
- Vegetable vs Fruit: Fruit and vegetables differ botanically; fruit is sweet, vegetables are savory. Compare →
Other Forms of Vegetable
Frequently Asked Questions About Vegetable
What is the meaning of "Vegetable"?
Plant food like carrots, lettuce, beans, or potatoes that you eat.
How do you pronounce "Vegetable"?
The IPA is /ˈvɛdʒtəbəl/. Four syllables: VEJ-tuh-bul. First syllable stressed, last is schwa sound.
What part of speech is "Vegetable"?
"Vegetable" is a noun at A1 level (Common European Framework).
What are synonyms for "Vegetable"?
Common synonyms include produce, plant, greens.
How do you use "Vegetable" in a sentence?
For example: "My child refuses to eat green vegetables."