bean

noun \ ˈbēn \

Updated on: 23 May 2018

Definition of bean

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

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Examples of bean in a Sentence

We ate rice and beans for dinner.
We're growing tomatoes and beans in our garden this year.

Recent Examples of bean from the Web

But the market for U.S. soybeans has grown increasingly precarious in recent months as China’s government threatens to impose a tariff on U.S. bean exports in retaliation for U.S. tariffs on Chinese metal and other goods.

— allison prang, WSJ, "Deere to Raise Prices as Costs Climb," 18 May 2018
In the 1920s, when Pico Boulevard was paved and the bean fields and orchards were subdivided, there were no small townships to incorporate into the street plan, so developers laid out regularly spaced blocks and filled them with homes.

— scott garner, latimes.com, "Neighborhood Spotlight: West L.A. — underneath it all — is a hometown, American as Apple Pan," 18 May 2018
Workers should also keep their faces away from the bins when scooping coffee beans.

— raquel rutledge, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "10 coffee-roasters found to have high levels of dangerous chemicals in the air that make workers sick," 16 May 2018
Play: Expend all that coffee-bean induced energy at Jefferson Park.

— crystal paul, The Seattle Times, "Seattle beyond the Space Needle: Pick an itinerary and explore this summer," 14 May 2018
One reason for the potential disease-preventing effects may be the antioxidants found in roasted coffee beans.

— darlene zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, "Healthy Table: Daily cup or two of coffee may have health benefits," 13 May 2018
Good now Beans: Garden-fresh bean hunters won’t walk away disappointed.

— chuck blount, San Antonio Express-News, "What’s available now in San Antonio-area farmers markets and what to expect soon," 9 May 2018
Coffee beans come from Logan Square’s Passion House.

— lori rackl, chicagotribune.com, "Moxy hotel opens Wednesday, welcoming 'fun hunters' to River North," 9 May 2018
Dessert is an apple tart in puff pastry with vanilla-bean ice cream.

— georgann yara, azcentral, "50-plus restaurants for Mother’s Day brunch, dinner and deals in Phoenix," 7 May 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of bean

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

bean Synonyms

bean

verb

Definition of bean

transitive verb

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

See bean defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of bean from the Web

The third baseman was beaned by Colorado German Marquez on Sunday and has missed the last four games . . .

— BostonGlobe.com, "Mass. basketball director Thomas Gassnola pleads guilty," 28 Apr. 2018
After Bryant was beaned, the Cubs collected four consecutive singles.

— mark gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "Cubs' Kris Bryant leaves in 1st after getting hit in the helmet by pitch," 22 Apr. 2018
Police were called to a Taco Bell in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Monday after an employee beaned his boss with a flying burrito.

— melissa locker, Time, "Taco Bell Employee Throws Cheesy Burrito at Boss to Make a Point," 24 Jan. 2018
The cargo area is open to the cabin, so a luggage net may be in order to protect occupants from getting beaned by stray onions after a grocery trip.

— Car and Driver, "2017 Chevrolet Corvette," 27 Sep. 2017
The only punishment in the past for one team suspecting another of stealing signs has been an opposing hitter getting beaned with a pitch.

— chris chavez, SI.com, "What Does it Mean to Steal Signs in Baseball?," 6 Sep. 2017
Several big league players had their careers shortened after being beaned — Mickey Cochrane, Ducky Medwick, Tony Conigliaro and Dickie Thon, for instance — but only Ray Chapman died.

— arthur hart, idahostatesman, "Boise baseball great had a killer pitch – literally," 26 Aug. 2017
TONY C. The Red Sox unveiled a display in Fenway Park to honor former outfielder Tony Conigliaro, who was nearly killed when blinded when he was beaned by Jack Hamilton of the California Angels on Aug. 18, 1967.

— USA TODAY, "Moreland delivers to help Red Sox beat Yankees 9-6," 18 Aug. 2017
This is reasonable given the distances, and has the benefit of being harder to bean-count.

— carolyn hax, The Seattle Times, "Learning to find an attention balance between children," 31 July 2017