bean

¹

[ been ]

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. beans, Informal. the slightest amount:

   He doesn't know beans about navigation.

verb (used with object)

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

interjection

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

Bean

²

[ been ]

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.”

bean

/ 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. cool beans slang.
   excellent; impressive
8. not have a bean slang.
   to be without money

   I haven't got a bean

9. full of beans informal.
   1. full of energy and vitality
   2. mistaken; erroneous
10. spill the beans informal.
    to disclose something confidential

verb

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

Other Words From

• beanlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bean¹

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-

Word History and Origins

Origin of bean¹

Old English bēan ; related to Old Norse baun , Old Frisian bāne , Old High German bōna bean

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. full of beans, Informal.
   1. energetic; vigorously active; vital:

      He is still full of beans at 95.

   2. stupid; erroneous; misinformed.
2. spill the beans, Informal. 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.

More idioms and phrases containing bean

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

Example Sentences

Ryder was previously co-host of the ‘Kevin and Bean’ morning show on KROQ-FM.

From Los Angeles Times

This is no conventional coffee: it is made without using a single coffee bean.

From BBC

"He bought him for about £1m and sold him for £24m, so he's ticked so many boxes, on the pitch for the fans to watch, enjoy and love, and off the pitch for the bean counters who want to make the football club a viable financial asset," Prutton added.

From BBC

“Those, over there, are actually castor bean stalks,” Kleckner said as we zoomed past.

From Los Angeles Times

Bean fantasies of bland feminine beauty is truly astounding.

From Salon

Related Words

• berry
• grain
• kernel