vegetable - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
vegetable Word Meanings
- a plant or part of a plant used as food
- a person with no energy or vitality
- a dish made primarily of vegetables
vegetable Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
vegetable Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈvɛdʒ.ɪ.tə.bəl/
US
/ˈvɛdʒ.ɪ.tə.bəl/
vegetable Word Etymology
Root: veget- = to grow; Historical origin: Latin 'vegetabilis' → Old French 'vegetable' → English; Memory image: Imagine a growing garden full of colorful vegetables, representing life and nourishment.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I move my hand along the row of vegetables at the market, feeling each texture. I push aside a carrot to peek at a bright pepper, then I adjust my grip and turn the produce in my palm to sense its weight. I place the chosen ones in my bag and keep scanning for color and scent. It stops being a label and becomes the everyday stuff I cook with, the kinds of flavors I reach for in dinner.
Real Context
Vegetable is a broad term for edible plant parts you eat as part of a meal, from leafy greens to roots, stems, and fruits that are culinary vegetables. The word contrasts with fruit in everyday talk, and we talk about vegetables being fresh, seasonal, and cooked in many ways (steamed, roasted, sautéed). In English you may hear 'eat your vegetables' and the informal short form veggie used in casual speech. The sense of a tired or lifeless person exists mainly in jokes and is informal and not common in polite conversation. When learning, notice the plural 'vegetables' and the common collocations like fresh vegetables, canned vegetables, and vegetable-based dishes.
Usage Reminders
- Remember: vegetable vs vegetables; veggie is informal; think of fresh vegetables as common collocations; most dishes use vegetables; not every plant part is a vegetable; use 'vegetable-based' for dishes.
Common Misconceptions
- Vegetables are only leafy greens like lettuce.
- All edible plant foods are vegetables.
- Vegetable must be eaten raw.
- Veggie and vegetable always mean the same thing in formal writing.
- Vegetable cannot be part of a dish by itself.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker that vegetable covers a broad edible plant part category and that 'a vegetable' can refer to a single ingredient, while 'vegetables' is the common plural; note the informal 'veggie'.
Learning Tips
- Learn common collocations (fresh vegetables, canned vegetables, vegetable-based)
- Remember plural form vegetables for multiple kinds
- Compare with fruit to avoid mistakes
- Use veggie in casual speech but not in formal writing
- Practice identifying vegetables in recipes
- Visualize a colorful market to remember the memory image
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What does the word 'vegetable' mean?
A.A type of car
B.A type of fruit
C.A type of plant
D.A type of animal
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses the word 'vegetable' correctly?
A.I like to eat vegetables for dessert.
B.I planted some vegetables in my backyard.
C.I saw a talking vegetable on TV.
D.I rode my bicycle to the vegetable store.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'vegetable'?
A.Meat
B.Car
C.Fruit
D.Beverage
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'vegetable'?
A.Mineral
B.Protein
C.Dairy
D.Cookie
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life context involving the word 'vegetable'?
A.She grew a small garden with flowers.
B.They went hiking in the mountains.
C.He cooked a delicious vegetable stir-fry for dinner.
D.The cat climbed up the tree.
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