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 Complex carbs are found naturally in whole grains, vegetables, and legumes. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2024 The highlight is Kernel’s veggie burger, a blend of sweet potato, quinoa, chickpeas, kale, mushrooms, and oats, among other grains, legumes, and vegetables. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 14 Feb. 2024 These, especially legumes in rotation, can reduce the amount of fertilizer required. Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2024 Lunch was almost always a big, leafy salad with lots of legumes and whole grains—and the dressings, like a cranberry vinaigrette or an avocado tahini, were always flavorful enough on their own. Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 27 Feb. 2024 Both diets include fresh fish, seasonal vegetables, legumes, whole grains, dairy, and moderate wine consumption.12 The main difference in the Atlantic diet is the higher consumption of red meat and pork products. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 21 Feb. 2024 Here’s how Asian American pastry chefs are making something new out of the humble legume. Emilia Petrarca, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2024 These include fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants; whole grains for fiber and nutrients; lean protein like fish and poultry; nuts and seeds for healthy fats; legumes for fiber and protein; and coffee and tea for antioxidants. Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2024 These include Lactaid and Beano, used by people who are lactose intolerant or who have gas or bloating after eating legumes, respectively. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 15 Feb. 2024

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 19 Mar. 2024.

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

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