Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - vegetative

 adjective  Date: 14th century  1.  a.  (1) growing or having the power of growing  (2) of, relating to, or engaged in nutritive and growth functions as contrasted with reproductive functions a ~ nucleus  b. promoting plant growth the ~ properties of soil  c. of, relating to, or involving propagation by nonsexual processes or methods  2. relating to, composed of, or suggesting vegetation  3. of or relating to the division of nature comprising the plant kingdom  4.  a. autonomic 1  b. characterized by, resulting from, or being a state of severe mental impairment in which only involuntary bodily functions are sustained  5. vegetable 3  • ~ly adverb  • ~ness noun