bean

1 of 2

noun

ˈbēn 

1

a

: fava bean

b

: the seed of any of various erect or climbing plants (as of the genera Phaseolus and Vigna) of the legume family other than the fava bean

c

: a plant bearing beans

d

: an immature bean pod used as a vegetable

2

a

: a valueless item

b

beans plural : the least amount

didn't know beans about it

3

: any of various seeds or fruits that resemble beans or bean pods

coffee beans

also : a plant producing these

4

a

beans plural : exuberance

—used in the phrase full of beans

b

beans plural : nonsense, bunkum

—used in the phrase full of beans

5

: head, brain

6

: a protuberance on the upper mandible of waterfowl see duck illustration

bean

2 of 2

verb

beaned; beaning; beans

transitive verb

: to strike (a person) on the head with an object

Synonyms

Noun

• block [slang]
• dome
• head
• mazard [chiefly dialect]
• mazzard
• nob
• noddle
• noggin
• noodle
• nut [slang]
• pate
• poll

Examples of bean in a Sentence

Noun

We ate rice and beans for dinner.

We're growing tomatoes and beans in our garden this year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There’s gringo tacos with a pound of ground beef, a pound of chicken, 15 tortillas, refried beans, lettuce, pico salad and sour cream for $49.95. —Alexandra Maloney, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2024

Diego Pops For a more casual Mexican option with a great happy hour, check out Diego Pops for tacos a la carte, bean and cheese burritos, Sonoran hot dogs and build-your-own bowls. —Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bene, from Old English bēan; akin to Old High German bōna bean

Verb

verbal derivative of bean entry 1 in sense "head"

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1909, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bean

• adzuki bean
• azuki bean
• bean counter
• bean counting
• bean curd
• bean sprouts
• bean thread
• black bean
• black-eyed bean
• broad bean
• butter bean
• cacao bean
• Calabar bean
• cannellini bean
• castor bean
• cocoa bean
• coffee bean
• fava bean
• French bean
• garbanzo bean
• great northern bean
• green bean
• haricot bean
• jack bean
• jelly bean
• jequirity bean
• jumping bean
• kidney bean
• lima bean
• locust bean
• Mexican bean beetle
• Mexican jumping bean
• moth bean
• mung bean
• navy bean
• pea bean
• pinto bean
• pole bean
• red bean
• runner bean
• scarlet runner bean
• shell bean
• sieva bean
• snap bean
• soya bean
• string bean
• tepary bean
• tonka bean
• turtle bean
• vanilla bean
• velvet bean
• wax bean
• white bean
• winged bean
• yard-long bean

Kids Definition

bean

noun

ˈbēn

1

a

: broad bean

b

: the seed or pod of various erect or climbing plants of the legume family

c

: a plant bearing beans

2

: a seed or fruit like a bean

coffee beans