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 Construction had to wait until the seller brought in his bean crop. — Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2022 At 72″ in diameter, this Yamba pet-and-family-friendly outdoor bean bag is built for a crowd, or sprawling out on a sunny afternoon. — Sunset Magazine, 14 June 2022 Diyad had abandoned his maize and bean fields in the southwestern region of Bay after the river ran low. — Abdi Latif Dahir, BostonGlobe.com, 12 June 2022 This is more of a pasta and bean sauce kind of meal, not one that qualifies as a soup. — Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 11 June 2022 The crops had been harvested in late October, leaving remnants of corn stalks, bean vines and some wheat stubble. — Steve Meyer, Anchorage Daily News, 29 May 2022 Crime scene investigators recovered 11 pistol casings, one rifle casing, two bean bag casings, three 40 mm less lethal shell casings and four 40mm foam projectiles, Yep said. — Lauren Hernández, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 May 2022 Key ingredients like shea butter, coffee bean extract, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, and aloe vera leaf hydrate, restore, and tighten the skin. — The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 May 2022 Say hi to Art making Honest Biscuits and Erin crafting bean-to-bar treats at indi chocolate. — Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 24 Apr. 2022 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.