Bean

¹ American  

[been] / bin /

noun

1. Alan L(aVern), 1932–2018, U.S. astronaut.

2. Roy Judge, 1825?–1903, U.S. frontiersman and justice of the peace: called himself “the law west of the Pecos.”

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bean ² American  

[been] / bin /

noun

1. the edible nutritious seed of various plants of the legume family, especially of the genus Phaseolus.

2. a plant producing such seeds.

3. the pod of such a plant, especially when immature and eaten as a vegetable.

4. any of various other beanlike seeds or plants, as the coffee bean.

5. Slang.

   1. a person's head.

   2. a coin or a bank note considered as a coin.

      I can't pay for the ticket, I don't have a bean in my jeans.

6. British Informal.  a minimum amount of money.

   They've been disinherited and now haven't a bean.

7. Informal.  beans, the slightest amount.

   He doesn't know beans about navigation.

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verb (used with object)

1. Slang.  to hit on the head, especially with a baseball.

interjection

1. beans, (used to express disbelief, annoyance, etc.)

idioms

1. full of beans,

   1. energetic; vigorously active; vital.

      He is still full of beans at 95.

   2. stupid; erroneous; misinformed.

2. spill the beans,  to disclose a secret, either accidentally or imprudently, thereby ruining a surprise or plan.

   He spilled the beans, and she knew all about the party in advance.

bean British  

/ biːn /

noun

1. any of various leguminous plants of the widely cultivated genus Phaseolus producing edible seeds in pods See French bean lima bean scarlet runner string bean

2. any of several other leguminous plants that bear edible pods or seeds, such as the broad bean and soya bean

3. any of various other plants whose seeds are produced in pods or podlike fruits

4. the seed or pod of any of these plants

5. any of various beanlike seeds, such as coffee

6. slang  another word for head

7. slang  excellent; impressive

8. slang  to be without money

   I haven't got a bean

9. informal

   1. full of energy and vitality

   2. mistaken; erroneous

10. informal  to disclose something confidential

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verb

1. slang  (tr) to hit (a person) on the head

bean More Idioms  

1. see full of beans; not have a bean; not know beans; not worth a dime (bean); spill the beans; tough break (beans).

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Other Word Forms

• beanlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of bean

before 950; Middle English bene, Old English bēan; cognate with Old Norse baun, Old Frisian bāne, Dutch boon, Old Saxon, Old High German bona ( German Bohne ), probably < Germanic *babnō, cognate with Russian bob, Latin faba < European Indo-European *bhabh-

Example Sentences

She suggested I increase my fibre intake - either by eating more oats, barley, beans, nuts and seeds, or by taking supplements of gel-forming fibre.

From BBC

Rosario, the foreman’s wife, had woken up at 4:30 a.m., as she always does, to make the couple a lunch of homemade tortillas, green beans and refried beans.

From Los Angeles Times

Rich dietary sources include eggs, poultry, fish, beans and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts.

From Science Daily

He tinkered around with the idea and developed a flash-frozen burrito filled with beef, beans and red chili powder.

From The Wall Street Journal

If this is the last dish you’re trying to make and you’re too tired to even lift your fork, the easiest thing you can make is boiled green beans with butter and lemon.

From Salon

Related Words

• berry
• grain
• kernel