chickpea

noun

chick·​pea ˈchik-ˌpē 

: an Asian herb (Cicer arietinum) of the legume family cultivated for its short pods with one or two seeds

also : its seed

Examples of chickpea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Open a can of beans — pinto, cannellini, chickpeas — to add hearty vegetable protein, and add a sprinkle of toasted nuts or seeds for more protein and satisfying crunch. —Ellie Krieger, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023

Simply drizzle the traditional Thanksgiving side dish with our homemade rosemary-brown sugar dressing and add the chickpeas before sliding the dish in the oven. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2023

For example, Korean BBQ tofu burgers with daikon-cucumber salad come with a premade quick-pickle brine and the Burmese chickpea and tomato soup arrives with a garlicky, gingery, lemongrass paste. —Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 30 Oct. 2023

Use our classic chickpea recipe for garlicky hummus as your home base. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Nov. 2023

The battle began in 2009, when Lebanon claimed Israel was trying to steal its national dish, turning the dip of sesame paste and chickpeas into an avatar of hostilities in the Middle East. —Kim Severson, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2023

The near-bare shelves are scattered with the odd container of powdered milk; walnuts; bags of lentils, chickpeas, and pasta; and a few cans of beef and tuna. —Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2023

The chain is launching vegan nacho sauce nationwide, which according to a Taco Bell spokesperson, is made from a chickpea and soy base, and it's certified by the American Vegetarian Association. —Lizzy Rosenberg, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2023

Okra, tomatoes, and chickpeas make up the bulk of the flavorful side dish. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

alteration of chich pea, from Middle English chiche, from Anglo-French, from Latin cicer

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

chickpea

noun

chick·​pea ˈchik-ˌpē 

: an Asian herb of the legume family cultivated for its short pods with one or two edible seeds

also : its seed