pea

¹ American  

[pee] / pi /

noun

PLURAL

peas

PLURAL

pease, peasen

1. the round, edible seed of a widely cultivated plant, Pisum sativum, of the legume family.

2. the plant itself.

3. the green, somewhat inflated pod of this plant.

4. any of various related or similar plants or their seed, as the chickpea.

5. something resembling a pea, especially in being small and round.

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adjective

1. pertaining to, growing, containing, or cooked with peas.

   We cultivated some tomato vines and a pea patch.

2. small or small and round (usually used in combination).

3. pea coal.

pea ² American  

[pee] / pi /

noun

Nautical.

1. bill.

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pea British  

/ piː /

noun

1. an annual climbing leguminous plant, Pisum sativum, with small white flowers and long green pods containing edible green seeds: cultivated in temperate regions

2. 1. the seed of this plant, eaten as a vegetable

   2. ( as modifier )

      pea soup

3. any of several other leguminous plants, such as the sweet pea, chickpea, and cowpea

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pea Idioms  

1. see like as two peas in a pod.

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Other Word Forms

• pealike adjective

Etymology

Origin of pea¹

First recorded in 1660–70; back formation from pease, taken as plural

Origin of pea¹

First recorded in 1825–35; perhaps short for peak ¹

Example Sentences

Legumes such as beans and peas naturally form root nodules, specialized structures that create the oxygen-poor conditions these bacteria require.

From Science Daily

Rachel attempts to help with the cooking, creating a trifle that includes custard, jam, beef and peas.

From Los Angeles Times

The Food and Drink Federation says UPFs can form part of a balanced diet, like frozen peas and wholemeal bread.

From BBC

Add the butter and shortening and pulse until the butter is the size of peas.

From Salon

When she first came to England as a child she said she had been a "migrant worker of sorts", picking peas in the fields in Lincolnshire alongside her mum.

From BBC

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