legume

noun

plural legumes
1
a
: the dry fruit of plants of the legume family (such as peas or beans) that develops from a single carpel of a flower and usually splits into two halves with seeds attached to the seam of one half : pod entry 1 sense 1
b
: the fruit or seeds of a legume plant (such as the peanut or tamarind) used for food
2
: any of a large family (Leguminosae synonym Fabaceae, the legume family) of dicotyledonous plants that have fruits that are legumes and roots with nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria and that includes important food and forage plants (such as peas, beans, or clovers)

Examples of legume in a Sentence

recipes that include legumes like lentils and chickpeas
Recent Examples on the Web However, when the participants substituted nuts and legumes for red meat in their diets, their risk of diabetes fell by 30%. Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 2 Nov. 2023 For example, many don't know that a peanut is actually a legume or bean. Delaney Nothaft, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2023 Similarly to vegetables, legumes also provide a ton of fiber which has benefits ranging from reducing risk of cardiovascular disease to helping control blood sugar levels. Good Housekeeping, 8 Sep. 2023 Cowboy Caviar This punchy, flavorful salad is packed with legumes, corn, tomatoes and a bright dressing. Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2023 Hearty and substantial, the bread crumbs add a very satisfying crunch to contrast with the soft legumes and potatoes and leafy greens. Julie Giuffrida, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2023 Consider items like lentils, beans and legumes, dairy, fish, meat, and eggs, which are all good sources of protein. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2023 To avoid this problem, separate legumes from your marigolds in the garden. Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2023 Phytates found in whole grains and legumes bind to iron and reduce its bioavailability. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 7 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legume.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French légume, from Latin legumin-, legumen leguminous plant, from legere to gather — more at legend

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of legume was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near legume

Cite this Entry

“Legume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legume. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

legume

noun
leg·​ume
ˈleg-ˌyüm,
li-ˈgyüm
1
a
: any of a large family of herbs, shrubs, and trees that have fruits which are dry single-celled pods that split into two pieces when ripe, that bear nodules on the roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and that include important food plants (as peas, beans, or clovers)
b
: the part (as seeds or pods) of a legume used as food
2
: the pod of a legume

Medical Definition

legume

noun
1
: the fruit or seed of leguminous plants (as peas or beans) used for food
2
: any plant of the family Leguminosae

More from Merriam-Webster on legume

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!