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. Informal.,  beans, 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. 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. slang,  another word for head

7. slang,  excellent; impressive

8. slang,  to be without money

   I haven't got a bean

9. informal

   1. full of energy and vitality

   2. mistaken; erroneous

10. informal,  to disclose something confidential

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• beanlike 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,

   1. energetic; vigorously active; vital.

      He is still full of beans at 95.

   2. stupid; erroneous; misinformed.

2. spill the beans, 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.

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

Example Sentences

His elegant “H”-line of 1954, for instance, was a nod to the humble haricot vert, or green bean.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Quality brew, especially when used with their bean grinder, for a fresh cup of joe that hits exactly how you need it without the fussing.

Read more on Salon

Min, a champion rat terrier, ate green beans leading up to the recent American Pulling Alliance Championship.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He said the family visits a food bank once a month for staples such as rice and beans.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Imagine you have been sent to sell your family’s cow at the market, but instead you trade the cow for a handful of beans.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• berry 
• grain 
• kernel