Word
lentil
US/ˈɫɛntəɫ/
UK/lˈɛntəl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small, round, flat seed you cook and eat in soups, stews, and curries. You can buy them dry or cooked, in green, brown, or red colors.
n. a small, lens-shaped leguminous seed cultivated as a food crop, typically cooked before eating. Usually encountered in the plural when referring to food.
Examples
“I cook red lentils for soup every week.”
“She adds green lentils to the salad for extra protein and texture.”
“The farmer rotates wheat with lentils to enrich the soil while securing a second income from the hardy legume.”
Examples
simple
“I cook red lentils for soup every week.”
contextual
“She adds green lentils to the salad for extra protein and texture.”
complex
“The farmer rotates wheat with lentils to enrich the soil while securing a second income from the hardy legume.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “lentil” in context.
Verb
01. add lentil
“Add the lentils to the soup and stir well.”
verb + noun
02. cook lentil
“Cook the lentils for 20 minutes until soft.”
verb + noun
03. drain lentil
“Boil the lentils, then drain them well.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. brown lentil
“I bought brown lentils for the stew.”
adj + noun
05. canned lentil
“Canned lentils are quick because they are already cooked.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. bag of lentil
“I bought a small bag of lentils at the market.”
noun + prep + noun
07. bowl of lentil
“He ate a whole bowl of lentils with rice.”
noun + prep + noun
08. cup of lentil
“Add one cup of lentils to the pot.”
noun + prep + noun
09. a bag of red lentils
“I bought a bag of red lentils to make soup.”
10. a bowl of lentil soup
“She had a bowl of lentil soup for lunch.”
11. add lentils to soup
“Add lentils to the soup and cook for 20 minutes.”
12. cook lentils until soft
“Cook the lentils until soft, then add salt.”
Usage
Usually plural when referring to food ('lentils'); singular for a single seed.
Real-World Examples
“For such an unassuming little legume, lentils are nutritional big shots.” “India is a major importer of protein-rich lentils, which are a crucial ingredient for daal curry, a dietary staple for millions.” “Protein isolates extracted from peas are being infused into fruit-flavored sodas, while lentil flour is increasingly being processed into pastas.” “With dried lentils in your pantry, you can quickly add a little tenderness to meals.” Etymology
From Middle English lentile, from Old French lentille from Latin lenticula, diminutive of lēns, from a pre-Indo-European substrate source shared by German Linse, Ancient Greek λάθυρος (láthuros) and Lithuanian lęšis. Doublet of lenticula.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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