butter bean

American  

Or butterbean

noun

1. a variety of small-seeded lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus, grown in the southern U.S.

2. Midland and Southern U.S. any type of lima bean.

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butter bean British  

noun

1. a variety of lima bean that has large pale flat edible seeds and is grown in the southern US

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Etymology

Origin of butter bean

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

The main course was braised beef short ribs nestled on butter bean grits, topped with sorghum-glazed carrots and pine nuts, and garnished with pink dianthus and sea-thrift petals from the White House garden.

From Washington Post • Apr. 26, 2023

The yellow squash soup was followed by braised beef short ribs with butter bean grits, sorghum-glazed carrots and pine nuts.

From New York Times • Apr. 26, 2023

The main course features beef, butter bean grits, sorghum-glazed carrots and pine nuts.

From Reuters • Apr. 24, 2023

The main course will include braised short ribs and butter bean grits with sorghum-glazed carrots and pine nuts.

From Washington Times • Apr. 24, 2023

The Carolina or butter bean often passes for the Lima.

From Soil Culture by Walden, J. H.