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, noun

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
[ lĕgyōōm′, 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.

Other words from legume

leguminous adjective