vegetation

/ˌvedʒəˈteɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌvedʒəˈteɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌve-jə-ˈtā-shən/ (ame, mw)

vegetation — noun

1. all the plants that grow together in a place — such as the trees, bushes, and gr

1.名詞B1
釋義

all the plants that grow together in a place — such as the trees, bushes, and grasses covering a hillside, a jungle, or a desert.

例句

Liang had to push through thick vegetation just to reach the cliff.

collocation: thick vegetation

Satellite images track changes in vegetation across the forests of Brazil.

同義詞
  • plant life

    more general, used in everyday speech

  • flora

    more formal and scientific, often paired with 'fauna'

  • greenery

    casual and positive, focusing on lush green plants

反義詞

文法句型

used as an uncountable noun; cannot be pluralized

用法筆記

Used as an uncountable noun; you cannot say 'a vegetation' or 'many vegetations'. To refer to individual plant types, use 'plants' or 'plant species' instead.

常見錯誤

❌The desert has a sparse vegetation.
✅The desert has sparse vegetation.
💡do not use the article 'a' before the uncountable noun 'vegetation'.
❌There are many vegetations in this forest.
✅There is a lot of vegetation in this forest.
💡vegetation has no plural form.

2. the biological process by which plants develop from seeds into mature forms with

2.名詞C1
釋義

the biological process by which plants develop from seeds into mature forms with stems, leaves, and roots.

例句

Élise studied the stages of vegetation in bean plants for her science report.

The warm climate encourages rapid vegetation, so the garden grows back quickly.

collocation: rapid vegetation

同義詞
反義詞
  • dormancy

    a period when growth stops temporarily

文法句型

used in technical or scientific contexts about plant development

用法筆記

Primarily used in botany, agriculture, or soil science. In everyday conversation, 'plant growth' or 'development' is more natural than 'vegetation' for this meaning.

常見錯誤

❌The vegetation of the crops was fast this spring.' (meaning 'growth process')
✅The growth of the crops was fast this spring.
💡for everyday speech, 'growth' is clearer than the technical term 'vegetation'.

3. a condition in which a person or living thing exists with almost no activity, mo

3.名詞C2
釋義

a condition in which a person or living thing exists with almost no activity, movement, or awareness — similar to how a plant lives without moving or thinking.

例句

After the accident, Walid's uncle remained in a state of vegetation for months.

The doctor described the patient's condition as a state of permanent vegetation.

medical: a state of permanent vegetation

同義詞
  • inactivity

    neutral term for lack of movement

  • stagnation

    implies a lack of development or progress

  • dormancy

    usually for natural cycles, not people

反義詞

文法句型

usually in the phrase 'a state of vegetation'

用法筆記

Used in medical contexts to describe a persistent vegetative state, or figuratively to criticize a lifestyle lacking stimulation. Can sound harsh if applied to a person's daily life.

常見錯誤

❌He is in vegetation.
✅He is in a state of vegetation.
💡the word typically requires the phrase 'a state of' before it in this sense.