legume

noun

le·​gume ˈle-ˌgyüm  li-ˈgyüm 

plural legumes

1

a

: the dry fruit of plants of the legume family (such as peas or beans) that develops from a single carpel of a flower and usually splits into two halves with seeds attached to the seam of one half : pod entry 1 sense 1

b

: the fruit or seeds of a legume plant (such as the peanut or tamarind) used for food

2

: any of a large family (Leguminosae synonym Fabaceae, the legume family) of dicotyledonous plants that have fruits that are legumes and roots with nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria and that includes important food and forage plants (such as peas, beans, or clovers)

Examples of legume in a Sentence

recipes that include legumes like lentils and chickpeas

Recent Examples on the Web

Though technically a legume, peanuts are often treated as nuts in culinary terms. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 21 Oct. 2024

And the hints for today’s groups are: Yellow group — legumes Green group — bring attention to yourself, perhaps Blue group — auto options Purple group — maybe these are worth dipping into What Are Today’s Connections Groups? —Kris Holt, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024

These days, Canada is the world’s largest exporter of lentils, but this legume is also grown in the U.S. in some of parts of the West and Midwest. —Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 19 Oct. 2024

The sausages are made of fruits, legumes and vegetables and are certified by the American Heart Assn. —Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French légume, from Latin legumin-, legumen leguminous plant, from legere to gather — more at legend

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

legume

noun

leg·​ume

ˈleg-ˌyüm,

li-ˈgyüm

1

a

: any of a large family of herbs, shrubs, and trees that have fruits which are dry single-celled pods that split into two pieces when ripe, that bear nodules on the roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and that include important food plants (as peas, beans, or clovers)

b

: the part (as seeds or pods) of a legume used as food

2

: the pod of a legume

Medical Definition

legume

noun

le·​gume ˈleg-ˌyüm  li-ˈgyüm 

1

: the fruit or seed of leguminous plants (as peas or beans) used for food

2

: any plant of the family Leguminosae