lentil
Americannoun
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a plant, Lens culinaris, of the legume family, having flattened, biconvex seeds used as food.
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the seed itself.
noun
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a small annual leguminous plant, Lens culinaris, of the Mediterranean region and W Asia, having edible brownish convex seeds
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any of the seeds of this plant, which are cooked and eaten as a vegetable, in soups, etc
Etymology
Origin of lentil
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, from Old French lentille, from Vulgar Latin lentīcula (unrecorded), from Latin lenticula; see lenticle
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Baz gradually returned to the kitchen, starting with “comforting, tender and slow” meals like chicken bone broth and lentil soup.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026
"Lenteja tipo Lanzarote," or Lanzarote lentil, is a popular label for lentils sold in Spanish shops.
From Science Daily • Nov. 26, 2025
Based on their frequency, severity, recurrence, and potential for hidden exposure, the top four new ones are goat's and sheep's milk, buckwheat, peas and lentil, and pine nuts.
From BBC • Aug. 20, 2025
So, some food manufacturers will increase the proportion of pea and lentil proteins they're using, which makes the meat alternative look more brown while cooking.
From Salon • Nov. 25, 2024
One morning in April, when the heat had returned for drying lentil wafers on the roof, we noticed that someone had vomited by the cistern tap.
From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
