lima bean

[ lahy-muh ]

noun

1. a bean, Phaseolus limensis, having a broad, flat, edible seed.
2. the seed, used for food.

lima bean

/ ˈliː-; ˈlaɪmə /

noun

1. any of several varieties of the bean plant, Phaseolus lunatus (or P. limensis ), native to tropical America but cultivated in the US for its flat pods containing pale green edible seeds
2. the seed of such a plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of lima bean¹

1810–20; named after Lima, Peru

Word History and Origins

Origin of lima bean¹

C19: named after Lima

Example Sentences

Also there's something familiar about the bushy eyebrows and the lima bean ears.

From Project Gutenberg

The mast Bunny had made was only a piece of a lima bean pole, and the sail was only an old bag.

From Project Gutenberg

Seeds borne in large pods shaped like a lima bean about ten inches long.

From Project Gutenberg

They had just then come in from the lima-bean field, where they had planted poles.

From Project Gutenberg