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Legume - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Legume : (noun)
1: an erect or climbing bean or pea plant of the family
Leguminosae [syn: leguminous plant]
2: the fruit or seed of any of various bean or pea plants
consisting of a two-valved case that splits along both
sides when ripe and having the seeds attached to one edge
of the valves
3: the seedpod of a leguminous plant (such as peas or beans or
lentils)
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Legume : \Leg"ume\ (l[e^]g"[-u]m or l[-e]*g[=u]m"), n. [F.
l['e]gume, L. legumen, fr. legere to gather. So called
because they may be gathered without cutting. See Legend.]
1. (Bot.) A pod dehiscent into two pieces or valves, and
having the seed attached at one suture, as that of the
pea.
Note: In the latter circumstance, it differs from a siliqua,
in which the seeds are attached to both sutures. In
popular use, a legume is called a pod, or cod; as, pea
pod, or peas cod.
2. pl. The fruit of leguminous plants, as peas, beans,
lupines; pulse.
Based on WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003)
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