green bean

noun

1. the immature green pod of the kidney bean, eaten as a vegetable.

green bean

noun

1. any bean plant, such as the French bean, having narrow green edible pods when unripe

Word History and Origins

Origin of green bean¹

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45

Example Sentences

I used mine to cut a bouquet outside, deftly harvest some green beans, lemons and eggplants, and even cut finger-sized branches with ease.

From Los Angeles Times

Moon gives the example of a food bank that receives a call from a farmer with excess green beans.

From Salon

Candy brand Brach’s ran into that issue with its Turkey Dinner Candy Corn, a 2021 limited-edition version of the fall staple that tasted like turkey, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, apple pie and coffee.

From Seattle Times

Pesticides, the group said, “posed significant risks” in 20% of the foods they examined, including bell peppers, blueberries, green beans, potatoes, and strawberries.

From Salon

CR highlighted only six types of domestic produce it felt were of real concern: bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, kale and mustard greens, green beans and watermelon.

From Seattle Times