beans
- 01 A1 Beginner
the seeds of some plants that you can eat, like green beans or coffee beans.
the edible seeds of various leguminous plants, or the plants themselves.
Simple“We had baked beans on toast for a quick and easy dinner.”
In context“The chef recommended soaking the dried beans overnight to ensure they cooked evenly in the traditional stew.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a very small or worthless amount of something, usually used in negative sentences.
a negligible or insignificant amount; almost exclusively used in negative constructions to emphasize lack of value.
Simple“He worked all weekend but he didn't earn beans for his effort.”
In context“Despite the aggressive marketing campaign, the new startup's actual profits didn't amount to beans by the end of the fiscal year.”
UsageUsually appears in the phrase 'not amount to beans' or 'not know beans about something.'
- 03 C1 Advanced
a slang word for drugs that come in the form of pills.
a slang term for illicit drugs or medication in tablet or capsule form.
Simple“The police found a small bag of beans in the suspect's pocket.”
In context“The undercover operation targeted local distributors who were selling various types of beans at music festivals.”
- 04 B1 Intermediate
the soft, pink or black pads on the bottom of a cat or dog's paw.
the digital and metacarpal pads on the underside of an animal's paw, particularly a cat.
Simple“The kitten stretched its legs, showing its tiny pink beans.”
In context“Social media users often share close-up photographs of their pets' paws, affectionately referring to the pads as toe beans.”
Teacher's tipThis is a very modern, internet-centric term often used by pet owners.
Synonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency