legume
[ leg-yoom, li-gyoom ]
/ ˈlɛg yum, lɪˈgyum /
noun
any plant of the legume family, especially those used for feed, food, or as a soil-improving crop.
the pod or seed vessel of such a plant.
any table vegetable of the legume family.
Origin of legume
1670–80; < French
légume vegetable < Latin
legūmen pulse, a leguminous plant, derivative of
legere to gather
OTHER WORDS FROM legume
non·leg·ume, nounWords nearby legume
legong,
legree,
legree, simon,
legroom,
leguaan,
legume,
legume family,
legumin,
leguminous,
leguía,
legwarmer
Example sentences from the Web for legume
British Dictionary definitions for legume
legume
/ (ˈlɛɡjuːm, lɪˈɡjuːm) /
noun
the long dry dehiscent fruit produced by leguminous plants; a pod
any table vegetable of the family Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae), esp beans or peas
any leguminous plant
Word Origin for legume
C17: from French
légume, from Latin
legūmen bean, from
legere to pick (a crop)
Scientific definitions for legume
legume
[ lĕg′yōōm′, lə-gyōōm′ ]
Any of a large number of eudicot plants belonging to the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae). Their characteristic fruit is a seed pod. Legumes live in a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in structures called nodules on their roots. These bacteria are able to take nitrogen from the air, which is in a form that plants cannot use, and convert it into compounds that the plants can use. Many legumes are widely cultivated for food, as fodder for livestock, and as a means of improving the nitrogen content of soils. Beans, peas, clover, alfalfa, locust trees, and acacia trees are all legumes.
The seed pod of such a plant.