vegetation
UK: ˌvedʒəˈteɪʃən | US: ˌvedʒəˈteɪʃən
n. plants in general; the total plant cover of a region
n. the process of vegetating or growing as a plant
n. (medicine) abnormal growth or excrescence
The word traces back to Latin vegetare, meaning "to enliven" or "invigorate," reflecting the dynamic process of plant growth. Over time, vegetation shifted from describing vitality broadly to specifically denoting plant life. The suffix -ation formalized it as a noun, emphasizing the collective or processual nature of plant growth.
The lush vegetation of the rainforest supports countless species.
After the fire, the vegetation took years to recover.
The doctor noted abnormal vegetation on the heart valve.
Desert vegetation has adapted to survive with minimal water.
Satellite images show changes in vegetation cover over decades.