bean

Pronunciation

• enPR: bēn, IPA ^(key): /biːn/
• SAMPA: /bi:n/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone(s): been (in certain dialects)

Noun

Singular bean

Plural beans

White beans

Broad beans

1. Beans are the seeds of one family of plants that people often cook and eat.

   Put the dried beans in water overnight. They should be soft and ready to cook in the morning.

2. A bean-like seed of some other plants, especially coffee.

   Although the beans from a single coffee may be sold unblended, in many cases, after roasting, beans from several different origins are combined to balance flavor