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leguminous

[ li-gyoo-muh-nuhs ]

adjective

  1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or bearing legumes.
  2. belonging to the Leguminosae.


leguminous

/ lɪˈɡjuːmɪnəs /

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae ), a family of flowering plants having pods (or legumes) as fruits and root nodules enabling storage of nitrogen-rich material: includes peas, beans, clover, gorse, acacia, and carob
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Words From

  • nonle·gumi·nous adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of leguminous1

1650–60; < Latin legūmin- (stem of legūmen; legume ) + -ous
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Word History and Origins

Origin of leguminous1

C17: from Latin legūmen; see legume
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Example Sentences

On the one hand, leguminous cover crops such as cowpeas and vetch add nitrogen to the soil, which microbes can transform into nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas.

To those who would suggest that we evolve, or that we not impose our religious or leguminous beliefs on others, I say, “HERETIC! HERETIC! TORCHES, QUICKLY!”

The sterling tree of the moment is the yellowwood, a medium-size shade tree with beechlike gray bark, a pleasing symmetric outline and panicles of delicate but showy white flowers that announce its leguminous clan.

Root nodules of leguminous plants like soy contain leghemoglobin of which heme is a main component.

From Salon

My favorite leguminous cover crop is crimson clover, not to be confused with red clover.

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More About Leguminous

What does leguminous mean?

Leguminous is an adjective used to describe plants in the legume family, which includes the plants that produce some beans, peas, and lentils.

The word legume most commonly refers to the edible seed pods of these plants (the beans, peas, lentils, and other things that they bear as fruit). The peanut is famously not a nut but a legume.

The word legume can also refer to the plants themselves. These include herbs, shrubs, trees, and vines that usually have compound leaves and clusters of irregular flowers.

The fruit from such plants (the beans or other edible part) usually comes in the form of a pod that splits along both sides—chickpeas and peanuts split down the middle in this way.

Many leguminous plants are widely grown as food for humans and animals. Some legumes are planted to improve the nitrogen content of the soil where they grow.

Example: My nutritionist recommended that I add more leguminous sources of protein to my diet.

Where does leguminous come from?

The first records of the word leguminous in English come from around the 1650s. Its base word, legume, comes from the French légume, meaning “vegetable.” It ultimately derives from the Latin legūmen, meaning “bean,” from the Latin verb legere, meaning “to pick (a crop).”

Legumes are eaten and used to make foods around the world. Some of the most popular legumes are chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans), which are a staple of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. Hummus is made from chickpeas. One of the most versatile legumes is the soybean, which is used to make tofu, soy sauce, some vegetable oil, and other products marketed as “plant-based.” Like soybeans, black-eyed peas are eaten by humans as well as used to feed livestock (hence their other name, cowpeas) and planted to improve the soil.

Leguminous plants add nitrogen to soil through bacteria that live on their roots. These bacteria take nitrogen from the air—which is otherwise unusable by the plants—and convert it into compounds that the plants can use. Think about that next time you’re dipping into your hummus.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of leguminous?

What are some words that share a root or word element with leguminous

What are some words that often get used in discussing leguminous?

 

How is leguminous used in real life?

Leguminous is most often used in the context of eating legumes.

 

 

Try using leguminous!

Which of the following foods is leguminous?

A. peanut
B. soybean
C. chickpea
D. all of the above

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