bean Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any of various edible seeds of plants of the family Leguminosae used for food
    edible bean.
  2. noun any of various seeds or fruits that are beans or resemble beans
  3. noun any of various leguminous plants grown for their edible seeds and pods
    bean plant.
  4. noun informal terms for a human head
    noodle; attic; dome; noggin; bonce.
  5. verb hit on the head, especially with a pitched baseball

WordNet

Bean noun
Etymology
OE. bene, AS.beán; akin to D. boon, G. bohne, OHG. pna, Icel. baun, Dan. bönne, Sw. böna, and perh. to Russ. bob, L. faba.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A name given to the seed of certain leguminous herbs, chiefly of the genera Faba, Phaseolus, and Dolichos; also, to the herbs. ✍ The origin and classification of many kinds are still doubtful. Among true beans are: the black-eyed bean and China bean, included in Dolichos Sinensis; black Egyptian bean or hyacinth bean, D. Lablab; the common haricot beans, kidney beans, string beans, and pole beans, all included in Phaseolus vulgaris; the lower bush bean, Ph. vulgaris, variety nanus; Lima bean, Ph. lunatus; Spanish bean and scarlet runner, Ph. maltiflorus; Windsor bean, the common bean of England, Faba vulgaris. As an article of food beans are classed with vegetables.
  2. The popular name of other vegetable seeds or fruits, more or less resembling true beans.

Webster 1913