legume

noun

le·​gume ˈle-ˌgyüm  li-ˈgyüm 

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

On the other hand, soluble fiber—found in some grains, legumes, seeds, and various vegetables—can slow down digestion. —Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2024

Foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes can help promote healthy digestion and prevent constipation, which in turn reduces the pressure in the colon and helps prevent to formation of more diverticula. —Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024

Fiber is in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes and is essential to gut health.4 Soluble fiber absorbs water in the digestive tract and forms a gel-like substance that helps to move stool through your digestive system. —Anna Meyer, Cpt, Health, 16 Oct. 2024

More than 26,000 legume fans are members of his company’s Bean Club, which started in 2013 and has a waiting list of 12,000. —Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2024

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

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

le·​gume ˈleg-ˌyüm  li-ˈgyüm 

1

: the fruit or seed of leguminous plants (as peas or beans) used for food

2

: any plant of the family Leguminosae