bean

¹

[ been ]

noun

1. the edible nutritious seed of various plants of the legume family, especially of the genus Phaseolus.
2. a plant producing such seeds.
3. the pod of such a plant, especially when immature and eaten as a vegetable.
4. any of various other beanlike seeds or plants, as the coffee bean.
5. Slang.
   1. a person's head.
   2. a coin or a bank note considered as a coin:

      I can't pay for the ticket, I don't have a bean in my jeans.

6. British Informal. a minimum amount of money:

   They've been disinherited and now haven't a bean.

7. beans, Informal. the slightest amount:

   He doesn't know beans about navigation.

verb (used with object)

1. Slang. to hit on the head, especially with a baseball.

interjection

1. beans, (used to express disbelief, annoyance, etc.)

Bean

²

[ been ]

noun

1. Alan L(aVern), 1932–2018, U.S. astronaut.
2. Roy Judge, 1825?–1903, U.S. frontiersman and justice of the peace: called himself “the law west of the Pecos.”

bean

/ biːn /

noun

1. See string bean, scarlet runner, lima bean, French bean
   any of various leguminous plants of the widely cultivated genus Phaseolus producing edible seeds in pods See French bean lima bean scarlet runner string bean
2. any of several other leguminous plants that bear edible pods or seeds, such as the broad bean and soya bean
3. any of various other plants whose seeds are produced in pods or podlike fruits
4. the seed or pod of any of these plants
5. any of various beanlike seeds, such as coffee
6. See head
   slang.
   another word for head
7. cool beans slang.
   cool beans excellent; impressive
8. not have a bean slang.
   not have a bean to be without money

   I haven't got a bean

9. full of beans informal.
   full of beans
   1. full of energy and vitality
   2. mistaken; erroneous
10. spill the beans informal.
    spill the beans to disclose something confidential

verb

1. slang.
   tr to hit (a person) on the head

Other Words From

• beanlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bean¹

before 950; Middle English bene, Old English bēan; cognate with Old Norse baun, Old Frisian bāne, Dutch boon, Old Saxon, Old High German bona ( German Bohne ), probably < Germanic *babnō, cognate with Russian bob, Latin faba < European Indo-European *bhabh-

Word History and Origins

Origin of bean¹

Old English bēan ; related to Old Norse baun , Old Frisian bāne , Old High German bōna bean

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. full of beans, Informal.
   1. energetic; vigorously active; vital:

      He is still full of beans at 95.

   2. stupid; erroneous; misinformed.
2. spill the beans, Informal. to disclose a secret, either accidentally or imprudently, thereby ruining a surprise or plan:

   He spilled the beans, and she knew all about the party in advance.

More idioms and phrases containing bean

see full of beans ; not have a bean ; not know beans ; not worth a dime (bean) ; spill the beans ; tough break (beans) .

Example Sentences

Once they discovered the ideal host plant, a kind of native bean, the villagers started planting it among their crops and along local pathways.

From Time

It’s very weeknight-friendly, since the stew uses canned beans and comes together quickly — although you could certainly rely on dried beans that you cook yourself.

From Washington Post

He ate a lot of rice and beans to ensure that he left me with an inheritance he thought would keep me safe in a world without him.

From MIT Technology Review

Winter’s produce is less than inspiring, you’ve done all the things one can do to a bean, and while the digital cook-o-sphere is loaded with ideas, there are just too many of them.

From Eater

The beans should be creamy and crush easily between two fingers.

From Outside Online

A French green bean salad with warm goat cheese reminds Ina Garten of having lunch in Paris.

From The Daily Beast

Also making appearances in the early Garfield specials are the original Bilbo Baggins, Orson Bean, and a pre-Cheers George Wendt.

From The Daily Beast

This has occurred with bean bag chairs, children's sweaters, and the Coco The Monkey Teething Toy.

From The Daily Beast

Bean is to dying onscreen what Kevin Bacon is to being connected with every other actor.

From The Daily Beast

Spending time with Bean is somewhat disconcerting after seeing him play so many somber, doomed roles.

From The Daily Beast

Once even a blue bean (a bullet) made sad work with my head, and my fist has got a deuce of a smashing.

From Project Gutenberg

Brazilian bean; the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, indigenous to America.

From Project Gutenberg

Called "Brazilian bean," because it resembled a bean then known in France by that name.

From Project Gutenberg

They are coffee-bean-shaped cocci which lie in pairs with their flat surfaces together (Fig. 116).

From Project Gutenberg

At daylight he opened another can of beans and made himself two thick bean sandwiches, and walked on while he ate them slowly.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• berry
• grain
• kernel