bean

[ been ]

/ bin /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR bean ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the edible nutritious seed of various plants of the legume family, especially of the genus Phaseolus.

a plant producing such seeds.

the pod of such a plant, especially when immature and eaten as a vegetable.

any of various other beanlike seeds or plants, as the coffee bean.

Slang.

a person's head.
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.

British Informal. a minimum amount of money: They've been disinherited and now haven't a bean.

beans, Informal. the slightest amount: He doesn't know beans about navigation.

verb (used with object)

Slang. to hit on the head, especially with a baseball.

interjection

beans, (used to express disbelief, annoyance, etc.).

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weal

well-being, prosperity, or happiness.

the intervening time.

a somewhat prolonged, sharp, shrill cry, as of pain, fear, or surprise.

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Idioms for bean

full of beans, Informal.

energetic; vigorously active; vital: He is still full of beans at 95.
stupid; erroneous; misinformed.

spill the beans, Informal. 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.

Origin of bean

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-

OTHER WORDS FROM bean

bean·like, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bean

bean been Ben bin

Words nearby bean

beamer, beaming, beamish, beamon, beamy, bean, bean aphid, bean ball, bean beetle, bean caper, bean pot

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for spill the beans

bean

/ (biːn) /

noun

any of various leguminous plants of the widely cultivated genus Phaseolus producing edible seeds in podsSee French bean, lima bean, scarlet runner, string bean

any of several other leguminous plants that bear edible pods or seeds, such as the broad bean and soya bean

any of various other plants whose seeds are produced in pods or podlike fruits

the seed or pod of any of these plants

any of various beanlike seeds, such as coffee

US and Canadian slang another word for head

cool beans slang excellent; impressive

not have a bean slang to be without moneyI haven't got a bean

full of beans informal

full of energy and vitality
US mistaken; erroneous

spill the beans informal to disclose something confidential

verb

mainly US and Canadian slang (tr) to hit (a person) on the head

Word Origin for bean

Old English bēan; related to Old Norse baun, Old Frisian bāne, Old High German bōna bean

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

Idioms and Phrases with spill the beans (1 of 2)

spill the beans

Disclose a secret or reveal something prematurely, as in You can count on little Carol to spill the beans about the surprise. In this colloquial expression, first recorded in 1919, spill means “divulge,” a usage dating from the 1500s.

Idioms and Phrases with spill the beans (2 of 2)

bean

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

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bean