2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  legume 
  n  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  fruit  or  seed  of  a  leguminous  plant  such  as  peas  or 
  beans  or  lentils 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words