lentil

American  

[len-til, -tl] / ˈlɛn tɪl, -tl /

noun

1. a plant, Lens culinaris, of the legume family, having flattened, biconvex seeds used as food.

2. the seed itself.

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lentil British  

/ ˈlɛntɪl /

noun

1. a small annual leguminous plant, Lens culinaris, of the Mediterranean region and W Asia, having edible brownish convex seeds

2. any of the seeds of this plant, which are cooked and eaten as a vegetable, in soups, etc

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Etymology

Origin of lentil

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old French lentille, from Vulgar Latin lentīcula (unrecorded), from Latin lenticula; lenticle

Example Sentences

Baz gradually returned to the kitchen, starting with “comforting, tender and slow” meals like chicken bone broth and lentil soup.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

"Lenteja tipo Lanzarote," or Lanzarote lentil, is a popular label for lentils sold in Spanish shops.

From Science Daily • Nov. 26, 2025

Based on their frequency, severity, recurrence, and potential for hidden exposure, the top four new ones are goat's and sheep's milk, buckwheat, peas and lentil, and pine nuts.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2025

There’s also chingri diye mulo shaak, a non-vegetarian variation of the same dish that swaps out lentil dumplings for shrimp.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2025

One morning in April, when the heat had returned for drying lentil wafers on the roof, we noticed that someone had vomited by the cistern tap.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri