bean
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a seed or seedpod from certain plants that people eat as food.
n.the edible seed or pod of various plants in the family Fabaceae, such as kidney beans or green beans.
Simple“She added a tin of black beans to the soup to make it more filling.”
In context“The chef recommended soaking the dried beans overnight to ensure they cooked evenly in the traditional stew.”
Synonymslegumepulse - 02 A2 Elementary
n.a seed from other plants that looks like a bean, such as a coffee bean.
n.a seed of certain non-leguminous plants that resembles a true bean in shape or size.
Simple“The smell of freshly ground coffee beans filled the entire house.”
In context“The quality of the chocolate depends heavily on the fermentation process of the cocoa beans after they are harvested.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a slang word for money, usually used when saying you have none.
n.a slang term for money, most frequently appearing in the negative idiom 'not to have a bean'.
Simple“After paying his rent and bills, he didn't have a bean left for the weekend.”
In context“Despite his expensive clothes, it was common knowledge among his peers that he didn't have a bean to his name.”
UsageAlmost always used in the singular with a negative to mean 'no money at all'.
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to hit someone on the head with an object, like a ball.
v.to strike someone, particularly on the head, with a thrown or launched projectile.
Simple“The pitcher accidentally beaned the batter with a fast ball.”
In context“He was nearly beaned by a falling apple while he was napping under the tree in the garden.”
Teacher's tipThis verb is most common in American English, particularly in the context of baseball.
Probably an occupational surname for a bean farmer, from bean.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.