Vegetable, in the broadest sense, any kind of plant life or plant product. VEGETABLEHomeEntertainment & Pop CultureFoodVegetablefoodWRITTEN BYThe Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....See Article HistoryVegetable, in the broadest sense, any kind of plant life or plant product, namely “vegetable matter”; in common, narrow usage, the term vegetable usually refers to the fresh edible portions of certain herbaceous plants—roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, or seeds. These plant parts are either eaten fresh or prepared in a number of ways, usually as a savory, rather than sweet, dish.

vegetablevegetableAssorted fresh vegetables.© AnaBGD/iStock.comCucumber (Cucumis sativus).Cucumber (Cucumis sativus).Walter ChandohabroccolibroccoliBroccoli (Brassica oleracea, variety italica) florets.© Nitr/Fotolia

VegetableQUICK FACTSRELATED TOPICSGardeningVegetable farmingVegetable processingBeanCornMustardQuinoaTomatoBeetAsparagusA brief treatment of vegetables and vegetable farming follows. For in-depth treatment of vegetable cultivation, see vegetable farming. For treatment of the nutrient composition and processing of vegetables, see vegetable processing.

Nectarine, Fruit, AgricultureBRITANNICA QUIZWhat Is It? Fruits and Veggies EditionIs a waterm.