bean

noun

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\ ˈbēn

Definition of bean

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

2a : 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

4a 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

verb

beaned; beaning; beans

Definition of bean (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

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

Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing bean Learn More About bean

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 The department has 15 12-gauge shotguns, primarily used to fire bean-bag munitions. — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2022 Factors that have hit prices for the bean, including shipping shortages and weather, are also hitting everything else that goes into that cup—from packaging materials, to labor costs, to the cost of energy involved in shipping and roasting coffee. — Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 4 Feb. 2022 To get to the seeds of the bean, use a paring knife to make a slit down the pod’s length, leaving the bottom intact. — Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 4 Dec. 2021 To make the bean salad: Combine the vinaigrette with a pinch of salt and a grind of black pepper. — Janelle Bitker, Tanay Warerkar, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Nov. 2021 Add the beans and some of the reserved bean cooking liquid if the mixture seems dry. — Joanne Rosa, ABC News, 24 Nov. 2021 Lupii produces vegan protein bars crafted from the lupini bean. — Meimei Fox, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2021 Huaraches are terrific, with a layer of bean at the center of the corn dough. — Carol Deptolla, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2021 That’s about 12% of the output from the world’s largest producer of Arabica, the bean used for most coffee sold around the world. — Matt Ott, chicagotribune.com, 27 Sep. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Everyone on the field agreed Matt Cain didn’t mean to bean David Wright on Aug, 15, 2009, when the star third baseman suffered a concussion after being hit on the helmet. — Jerry Beach, Forbes, 9 Apr. 2022 Eight days earlier in Pittsburgh, Cubs manager Joe Maddon took exception to Pirates pitcher Jordan Lyles nearly beaning Javier Baez. — Mark Gonzales, chicagotribune.com, 13 July 2019 Immediately following the show, there will bean after arty in the Kleist Center’s Black Box Theatre. — Rich Heileman, cleveland, 8 Nov. 2019 The Dodgers were fortunate the Nationals didn’t further reduce their 3-1 lead in that inning, which Buehler started by beaning Kurt Suzuki. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2019 After Maddon’s ejection, David Bote was beaned by reliever Clay Holmes with the bases loaded during a five-run fifth, causing home-plate umpire Joe West to issue warnings to both dugouts. — Mark Gonzales, chicagotribune.com, 3 July 2019 Attacking the upper half of the strike zone against the Cubs has been a successful ploy by the Dodgers and Braves, but the high and tight pitches by Lyles and Clay Holmes — who beaned David Bote with the bases loaded — were too much for Maddon. — Mark Gonzales, chicagotribune.com, 5 July 2019 On June 21, 1967, Yankees pitcher Thad Tillotson beaned Sox third baseman Joe Foy, who had hit a grand slam the day before, in the second inning. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2019 Baltimore closer Mychal Givens beaned Bregman between the shoulder blades with a 97 mph fastball in the ninth inning. — Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle, 13 Aug. 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bean.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.