bean

1 of 2

noun

ˈbēn 

1

a

: fava bean

b

: the seed of any of various erect or climbing plants (as of the genera Phaseolus and Vigna) of the legume family other than the fava bean

c

: a plant bearing beans

d

: an immature bean pod used as a vegetable

2

a

: a valueless item

b

beans plural : the least amount

didn't know beans about it

3

: any of various seeds or fruits that resemble beans or bean pods

coffee beans

also : a plant producing these

4

a

beans plural : exuberance

—used in the phrase full of beans

b

beans plural : nonsense, bunkum

—used in the phrase full of beans

5

: head, brain

6

: a protuberance on the upper mandible of waterfowl see duck illustration

bean

2 of 2

verb

beaned; beaning; beans

transitive verb

: to strike (a person) on the head with an object

Synonyms

Noun

• block [slang]
• dome
• head
• mazard [chiefly dialect]
• mazzard
• nob
• noddle
• noggin
• noodle
• nut [slang]
• pate
• poll

Examples of bean in a Sentence

Noun

We ate rice and beans for dinner.

We're growing tomatoes and beans in our garden this year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

First, layer the tostadas, beans, enchilada sauce, and cheeses for baking. —Zoe Denenberg, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2024

Carbs are found in fruit, grains, starchy vegetables, beans, legumes, dairy, and sweets. —Elizabeth Woolley, Verywell Health, 15 Apr. 2024

The Topo Loco Burrito costs $12 and comes stuffed with brisket, beans, elote, Fritos corn chips, hot sauce, cilantro, cheese and tomatillo crema. —Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024

Add tomatoes and their liquid to the pot, along with the beans, salt and broth. —Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2024

Then the kidnappers made new demands: two motorbikes, five walkie-talkies, bags of rice and beans, top-up cards for mobile data and airtime, and industrial glues, often inhaled and used as intoxicants. —Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 9 Apr. 2024

Orange Black Beans With Cumin Ladle these citrusy, spiced beans over white rice for a total eclipse of your plate. —Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024

Since the baby was born, my usual coffee routine has switched from an AeroPress and fresh ground beans to a latte with Nespresso pods. —Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 4 Apr. 2024

This ensures that there will be no tough pebbles of lemongrass or galangal in your pot of beans. —Diep Tran, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024

Verb

Banana Saver Case Internet meme beans The reason these beans are slightly cursed entirely has to do with this long-running popular subreddit r/beansinthings, in which people put these beans in things, all for a good laugh. —Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 15 Dec. 2023

In other words: Sheridan’s company has already bean there, done that. —James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Sorana beans with salsa verde, and sheets of pasta enfolding oxtail. —Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 10 Dec. 2023

Mike Sneed was walking on a nature trail near his Reston, Va., home recently when he was beaned by a falling acorn. —John Kelly, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2023

Mikey Kane was beaned to open the bottom of the 13th and Macias — after botching two bunt attempts — moved Kane to second with a grounder to first. —Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 17 Apr. 2023

On Sunday, Harrington’s drive sailed left and beaned a male spectator on the forehead. —Brad Townsend, Dallas News, 29 May 2023

He has been beaned three times in the series, including twice on Saturday. ... —Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 17 Apr. 2023

Mikey Kane, who continued his hot start to the season, was beaned to open the inning, and the Beavers followed with a pair of bunts — Tanner Smith laid down a single to third base and Kyle Dernedde followed with a sacrifice to first — to put runners on first and second with one out. —Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 2 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bene, from Old English bēan; akin to Old High German bōna bean

Verb

verbal derivative of bean entry 1 in sense "head"

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1909, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing bean

• adzuki bean
• azuki bean
• bean counter
• bean counting
• bean curd
• bean sprouts
• bean thread
• black bean
• black-eyed bean
• broad bean
• butter bean
• cacao bean
• Calabar bean
• cannellini bean
• castor bean
• cocoa bean
• coffee bean
• fava bean
• French bean
• garbanzo bean
• great northern bean
• green bean
• haricot bean
• jack bean
• jelly bean
• jequirity bean
• jumping bean
• kidney bean
• lima bean
• locust bean
• Mexican bean beetle
• Mexican jumping bean
• moth bean
• mung bean
• navy bean
• pea bean
• pinto bean
• pole bean
• red bean
• runner bean
• scarlet runner bean
• shell bean
• sieva bean
• snap bean
• soya bean
• string bean
• tepary bean
• tonka bean
• turtle bean
• vanilla bean
• velvet bean
• wax bean
• white bean
• winged bean
• yard-long bean

Kids Definition

bean

noun

ˈbēn

1

a

: broad bean

b

: the seed or pod of various erect or climbing plants of the legume family

c

: a plant bearing beans

2

: a seed or fruit like a bean

coffee beans