vegetal

adjective

veg·​e·​tal ˈve-jə-tᵊl 

1

: vegetable

2

: vegetative

3

: of or relating to the vegetal pole of an egg or to that part of an egg from which the endoderm normally develops

vegetal blastomeres

Examples of vegetal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Santa Fe burrito is a genuine pleasure—more restrained, built on a smaller scale, with green chile doing the complex, vegetal, low-burning work that other versions might leave to salsa—though, again, the tortilla serves its contents, rather than the hosannas going the other way. —Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 3 May 2026

As the fish steams inside the packets, the leaves give off a vegetal base flavor and scent. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026

And even the smallest nibble wallops with a potent vegetal bitterness. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026

In March and April, rosewater distilleries puff gently with steam, filling the air with a sweet, vegetal scent. —Anna Zacharias, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin vegetālis, from Late Latin vegetāre "to live, grow" + Latin -ālis -al entry 1 — more at vegetate

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vegetal

• vegetal pole

Medical Definition

vegetal

adjective

veg·​e·​tal ˈvej-ət-ᵊl 

1

: vegetable

2

: of or relating to the vegetal pole of an egg or to that part of an egg from which the endoderm normally develops

vegetal blastomeres