ben

1
[ ben ]

noun
  1. the inner or back room of a two-room cottage, especially when used as a combined parlor and bedroom.

adverb, preposition
  1. within; inside.

adjective
  1. inside; inner.

Origin of ben

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English (Scots); as adverb, an unexplained variant of late Middle English bin, Middle English binne, Old English binnan “within” (cognate with Old Frisian binna, Middle Dutch, German binnen ), equivalent to bi- “near, around” + innan “within”; see origin at be-, in

Other definitions for ben (2 of 5)

ben2
[ ben ]

noun
  1. the seed of a tropical tree, Moringa pterygosperma, that yields an oil (ben oil ) used in manufacturing cosmetics and lubricating delicate machinery.

Origin of ben

2
First recorded in 1550–60; from Arabic bān, the name of the tree

Other definitions for ben (3 of 5)

ben3
[ ben ]

nounScot., Irish.
  1. a mountain peak; high hill: Ben Nevis.

Origin of ben

3
First recorded in 1780–90; from Scots Gaelic, Irish beann “peak”

Other definitions for ben (4 of 5)

ben4
[ ben ]

  1. son of (used especially in Hebrew and Arabic names): Moses ben Maimon.

Origin of ben

4
From Hebrew bēn, Arabic bin “son”
  • Also Ben .

Other definitions for Ben (5 of 5)

Ben
[ ben ]

noun
  1. a male given name, form of Benjamin.

Words that may be confused with Ben

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How to use ben in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ben (1 of 3)

ben1

/ (bɛn) Scot /


noun
  1. an inner room in a house or cottage

preposition, adverb
  1. in; within; inside; into the inner part (of a house)

adjective
  1. inner

Origin of ben

1
Old English binnan, from be- + innan inside

British Dictionary definitions for ben (2 of 3)

ben2

/ (bɛn) /


noun
  1. any of several Asiatic trees of the genus Moringa, esp M. oleifera of Arabia and India, whose seeds yield oil of ben, used in manufacturing perfumes and cosmetics, lubricating delicate machinery, etc: family Moringaceae

  2. the seed of such a tree

Origin of ben

2
C15: from Arabic bān

British Dictionary definitions for ben (3 of 3)

ben3

/ (bɛn) /


noun
  1. Scot and Irish a mountain peak (esp in place names): Ben Lomond

Origin of ben

3
C18: from Gaelic beinn, from beann

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