lentil

noun

len·​til ˈlen-tᵊl 

1

: a widely cultivated Eurasian annual leguminous plant (Vicia lens synonym Lens culinaris) with flattened edible seeds and leafy stalks used as fodder

2

: the seed of the lentil

Examples of lentil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Recipe Ideas: Split Pea Soup Potato Leek Soup Ham And Potato Soup Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup White Bean Chard Soup Hoppin’ John Soup (swap turkey wings for ham bone) Beans & Peas The meatiness pairs nicely with many legumes such as white beans, black-eyed peas, navy beans, pintos, and lentils. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024

Protein can come from a number of different food sources, from lentils (23.6 grams per 1/2 cup of dry lentils, per the US Department of Agriculture's food database) to greek yogurt (16.1 g per single-serving container) and meat, such as ground turkey (34.9 grams per cup). —Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024

Beans and their legume cousins, peas and lentils, entered the nutritional spotlight Tuesday when the 2025 US Dietary Advisory Committee released scientific guidance that could shape federal nutrition advice for the next five years. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024

Under the current dietary guidelines, beans, peas and lentils are categorized as both vegetables and protein foods. —Randi Richardson, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French lentille, from Latin lenticula, diminutive of lent-, lens

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

lentil

noun

len·​til ˈlent-ᵊl 

: a Eurasian plant of the legume family widely grown for its flattened edible seeds and leafy stalks used as food for cattle

also : its seed