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bean

Pronunciation: /biːn/
Translate bean | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of bean

noun

  • 1an edible seed, typically kidney-shaped, growing in long pods on certain leguminous plants: a tin of beans beans on toast [as modifier]:a bean casserole
  • the hard seed of coffee, cocoa, and certain other plants.
  • 2a leguminous plant that bears beans in pods.
    • Phaseolus and other genera, family Leguminosae: numerous species, including the runner bean (P. coccineus), French bean (P. vulgaris), and broad bean (Vicia faba)
  • 3 (North American also beans) [with negative] informal a very small amount or nothing at all of something (used emphatically):there is not a single bean of substance in the report
  • used in reference to money:he didn’t have a bean
  • 4 informal, dated a person’s head, especially when regarded as a source of common sense: this morning the old bean seems to be functioning in a slow way

verb

[with object] informal, chiefly North American
  • hit (someone) on the head:she picked up a rock and beaned him on the forehead

Phrases

full of beans

informal lively; in high spirits: she was laughing and shouting and generally full of beans

know how many beans make five

British informal be sensible and intelligent: Emily certainly knew how many beans made five

old bean

British informal, dated a friendly form of address to a man: great to see you, old bean!

Origin:

Old English bēan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boon and German Bohne

bean in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of bean in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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