lentil

noun

len·​til ˈlen-tᵊl 

1

: a widely cultivated Eurasian annual leguminous plant (Vicia lens synonym Lens culinaris) with flattened edible seeds and leafy stalks used as fodder

2

: the seed of the lentil

Examples of lentil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are traditional soups like Greek lentil and avgolemono, a lemony chicken soup with egg; and salads with golden beets or apples and gorgonzola. —Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026

Oats, beans, lentils, apples and avocados all have high soluble fiber content. —Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 22 Mar. 2026

Uddin pointed to loaves of extra bread, a few boxes of tea, large sacks of flour, bottles of oil and packets of yellow lentils. —Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026

In their dining room off H Street NE, Sundas served burrata in saucy lentils and saag paneer lasagna set in fortifying curry. —Elazar Sontag, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French lentille, from Latin lenticula, diminutive of lent-, lens

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lentil

• dental
• ental
• gentle
• mental
• rental
• accidental
• compartmental
• continental
• detrimental
• elemental
• fundamental
• governmental

Kids Definition

lentil

noun

len·​til ˈlent-ᵊl 

: a Eurasian plant of the legume family widely grown for its flattened edible seeds and leafy stalks used as food for cattle

also : its seed