legume

noun

le·​gume ˈle-ˌgyüm  li-ˈgyüm 

plural legumes

1

a

: the dry fruit of plants of the legume family (such as peas or beans) that develops from a single carpel of a flower and usually splits into two halves with seeds attached to the seam of one half : pod entry 1 sense 1

b

: the fruit or seeds of a legume plant (such as the peanut or tamarind) used for food

2

: any of a large family (Leguminosae synonym Fabaceae, the legume family) of dicotyledonous plants that have fruits that are legumes and roots with nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria and that includes important food and forage plants (such as peas, beans, or clovers)

Examples of legume in a Sentence

recipes that include legumes like lentils and chickpeas

Recent Examples on the Web

Carbs are found in fruit, grains, starchy vegetables, beans, legumes, dairy, and sweets. —Elizabeth Woolley, Verywell Health, 15 Apr. 2024

Days a week 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cereals and tubers Oil Sugar Seeds, beans, legumes Vegetables Protein-rich foods Dairy products Fruits 4.4 2.13 1.71 1.7 0.52 0.38 0.3 0.06 Source: IPC acute food insecurity analysis. —Lauren Weber, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024

These ingredients found in nature include: Fenugreek: This ingredient is an herb from the legume family, and many supplements utilize it as a source of the soluble fiber galactomannan. —Weight Loss Advisors, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

One is to take a cue from legumes, which, unlike cereals, can fix nitrogen, in a way. —Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2024

This legume brings additional protein along with vitamins C and K and the B vitamins thiamine and folate. —Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024

Across South Asia and its diaspora, dal — which refers to both the legumes and the finished dish — is inherently linked to comfort, whether simmered with coconut milk, sweetened with a little jaggery or topped with crisp curry leaves. —Priya Krishna, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024

Morier uses a mix of vital wheat gluten, beans, seasonings, legumes and other items for Cosmic Bird’s chicken items. —Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024

Some crops, like legumes, act as hosts for diazotrophs, which fix nitrogen from within the plant. —Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French légume, from Latin legumin-, legumen leguminous plant, from legere to gather — more at legend

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

legume

noun

leg·​ume

ˈleg-ˌyüm,

li-ˈgyüm

1

a

: any of a large family of herbs, shrubs, and trees that have fruits which are dry single-celled pods that split into two pieces when ripe, that bear nodules on the roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and that include important food plants (as peas, beans, or clovers)

b

: the part (as seeds or pods) of a legume used as food

2

: the pod of a legume

Medical Definition

legume

noun

le·​gume ˈleg-ˌyüm  li-ˈgyüm 

1

: the fruit or seed of leguminous plants (as peas or beans) used for food

2

: any plant of the family Leguminosae