vegetation

noun

veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌve-jə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: plant life or total plant cover (as of an area)

2

: the act or process of vegetating

3

: inert existence

4

: an abnormal growth upon a body part

fibrin vegetations on the mitral valve

vegetational

ˌve-jə-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl

 

adjective

Synonyms

• flora
• foliage
• green
• greenery
• herbage
• leafage
• verdure

Examples of vegetation in a Sentence

the dense vegetation of the jungle

the local vegetation is flourishing as a result of the recent rains

Recent Examples on the Web

Zink takes the time to camouflage, paying attention to every detail, grassing the chicken-wire frame of his boat blind with natural vegetation. —Joe Arterburn, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024

Unlike typical droughts, which can develop over extended periods, flash droughts emerge due to a combination of high temperatures, low humidity, intense sunlight, and strong winds, which speed up the drying of soils and vegetation. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

There are no photos of Valeriana, which is covered by dense jungle vegetation. —Anna Lagos, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024

The Area Around Your Home's Foundation Remove thick mulch, vegetation, and wood piles up against your home’s foundation. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin vegetātiōn-, vegetātiō "power of growth," going back to Latin, "act of invigorating," from vegetāre "to impart energy to, invigorate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal nouns — more at vegetate

First Known Use

1564, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

vegetation

noun

veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌvej-ə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: the act or process of vegetating

2

: dull or inactive living

a life of tranquil vegetation

3

: plant life or cover (as of an area)

Medical Definition

vegetation

noun

veg·​e·​ta·​tion ˌvej-ə-ˈtā-shən 

: an abnormal outgrowth upon a body part

specifically : any of the warty excrescences on the valves of the heart that are composed of various tissue elements including fibrin and collagen and that are typical of endocarditis