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bean
The definition of a bean is the edible seed of various plants.
Types of Beans
- Phaseolus Vulgaris - All beans fit into this category. They are divided into subcategories based upon their color.
- Frijoles Negro - Black beans.
- Phaseolus Limensis - Lima beans.
- Phaseolus Lunatus - Butter beans.
- Vicia Faba Major - Horse beans.
- Phaseolus Coccineus - Runner beans.
- Glycine Max - Soy beans.
- Phaseolus Acutifolius - Tepary beans.
- Phaseolus Angularis - Adzuki or Azuki beans.
Chickpeas, lentils and limas are each an example of a bean.
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See bean in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- any of various leguminous plants; esp., any of several species of a genus (Phaseolus) of the pea family, including the kidney bean and lima bean
- the edible, smooth, kidney-shaped seed of any of these plants
- a pod with such seeds, eaten as a vegetable when still unripe
- the bean-shaped seed of some other plants: coffee bean
- any of these other plants: castor bean tree
- ☆ Slang the head, brain, or mind
- ☆ Slang even a small amount: used in negative constructions: not to know beans about something
Origin: ME ben < OE bean; akin to ON baun, Ger bohne < ? IE *bhabhā > L faba, bean
transitive verb
- Slang to hit on the head
- Baseball to hit (a batter) on the head with a pitched ball
See bean in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- a. Any of various New World twining herbs of the genus Phaseolus in the pea family, having leaves with three leaflets, variously colored flowers, and edible pods and seeds.b. A seed or pod of any of these plants.
- Any of several related plants or their seeds or pods, such as the adzuki bean, broad bean, or soybean.
- Any of various other plants or their seeds or fruits, especially those suggestive of beans, such as the coffee bean or the vanilla bean.
- Slang A person's head.
- beans Slang A small amount: I don't know beans about investing.
- Chiefly British A fellow; a chap.
Slang
To hit (another) on the head with a thrown object, especially a pitched baseball.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English ben, broad bean
Origin: , from Old English bēan; see bha-bhā- in Indo-European roots
.
American frontiersman in Texas who in 1881 appointed himself justice of the peace and handed down judgments based on one law book and one six-shooter.
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