# bean

/ˈbin/ (US) · /bˈiːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bean
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. edible seed or pod

noun · CEFR A2

a seed or seedpod from certain plants that people eat as food.

For teachers: the edible seed or pod of various plants in the family Fabaceae, such as kidney beans or green beans.

- She added a tin of black beans to the soup to make it more filling.
- The chef recommended soaking the dried beans overnight to ensure they cooked evenly in the traditional stew.

### 2. bean-like seed

noun · CEFR A2

a seed from other plants that looks like a bean, such as a coffee bean.

For teachers: a seed of certain non-leguminous plants that resembles a true bean in shape or size.

- The smell of freshly ground coffee beans filled the entire house.
- The quality of the chocolate depends heavily on the fermentation process of the cocoa beans after they are harvested.

### 3. the head

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a slang word for a person's head.

For teachers: a slang term for the human head or brain.

- Be careful not to hit your bean on that low ceiling.
- He used his bean to figure out a clever solution to the technical problem that had stumped the rest of the team.

### 4. money

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Informal

a slang word for money, usually used when saying you have none.

For teachers: a slang term for money, most frequently appearing in the negative idiom 'not to have a bean'.

- After paying his rent and bills, he didn't have a bean left for the weekend.
- Despite his expensive clothes, it was common knowledge among his peers that he didn't have a bean to his name.

Usage: Almost always used in the singular with a negative to mean 'no money at all'.

### 5. to hit on the head

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to hit someone on the head with an object, like a ball.

For teachers: to strike someone, particularly on the head, with a thrown or launched projectile.

- The pitcher accidentally beaned the batter with a fast ball.
- He was nearly beaned by a falling apple while he was napping under the tree in the garden.

Teaching tip: This verb is most common in American English, particularly in the context of baseball.

## Examples

- I added some beans to the soup for extra protein.
- The chef soaked the dried beans overnight before simmering them with garlic and herbs for the stew.
- While many cultures rely on the common bean as a primary protein source, the botanical category also includes more specialized varieties like the broad bean and the soybean.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.