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

A little water goes a long way, unlocking notes of cocoa, banana custard, espresso bean, and soft serve butterscotch dip. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 2023

The Mediterranean diet is defined by high consumption of olive oil, fish, breads and cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, beans, and seeds; moderate amounts of dairy products, poultry, and alcohol; and small amounts of red and processed meat and sweets. —Lauren Manaker Ms, Rdn, Ld, Clec, Verywell Health, 17 Nov. 2023

Today [there's] five-colored carrots, five-colored beets, sumac, amazing beans, amazing peppers, new herbs, and vegetables. —Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 15 Nov. 2023

Lead, on the other hand, can get onto the cocoa beans after harvest, potentially from dust and soil while beans dry outside (especially if they are dried near highways or factories that use lead). —Cathy Cassata, Health, 15 Nov. 2023

But the beans and eggs, made with unknowable (and probably unthinkable) quantities of lard, have been a constant for more than three quarters of a century. —Jorge Valencia Mariano Fernandez, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023

The beans could simmer unattended while the cook was busy with the laundry and other chores. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2023

But for five beans or more, his quick estimations were often incorrect. —Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 9 Nov. 2023

Canned white Great Northern beans: Adds a rich, creamy texture to the soup once lightly smashed. —Melissa Gray, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2023

Verb

Mike Sneed was walking on a nature trail near his Reston, Va., home recently when he was beaned by a falling acorn. —John Kelly, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2023

Mikey Kane was beaned to open the bottom of the 13th and Macias — after botching two bunt attempts — moved Kane to second with a grounder to first. —Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 17 Apr. 2023

On Sunday, Harrington’s drive sailed left and beaned a male spectator on the forehead. —Brad Townsend, Dallas News, 29 May 2023

He has been beaned three times in the series, including twice on Saturday. ... —Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 17 Apr. 2023

Mikey Kane, who continued his hot start to the season, was beaned to open the inning, and the Beavers followed with a pair of bunts — Tanner Smith laid down a single to third base and Kyle Dernedde followed with a sacrifice to first — to put runners on first and second with one out. —Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 2 Mar. 2023

Krazy, who suffered the endless brick-chucking torments of Ignatz Mouse, whose life’s pursuit was to bean her, day in, day out, was a bottomless well of forgiveness. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Sep. 2022

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

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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

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

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

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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