1. [n]  informal terms for a human head
2. [n]  any of various edible seeds of plants of the family Leguminosae
3. [n]  any of various leguminous plants grown for their edible seeds and pods
4. [n]  any of various seeds or fruits suggestive of beans

Bean
Bean

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1. \Bean\ (b[=e]n), n. [OE. bene, AS. be['a]n; akin to D.
   boon, G. bohne, OHG. p[=o]na, Icel. baun, Dan. b["o]nne, Sw.
   b["o]na, and perh. to Russ. bob, L. faba.]
   1. (Bot.) A name given to the seed of certain leguminous
      herbs, chiefly of the genera {Faba}, {Phaseolus}, and
      {Dolichos}; also, to the herbs.
   Note: The origin and classification of many kinds are still
         doubtful. Among true beans are: the black-eyed bean and
         China bean, included in {Dolichos Sinensis}; black
         Egyptian bean or hyacinth bean, {D. Lablab}; the common
         haricot beans, kidney beans, string beans, and pole
         beans, all included in {Phaseolus vulgaris}; the lower
         bush bean, {Ph. vulgaris}, variety {nanus}; Lima bean,
         {Ph. lunatus}; Spanish bean and scarlet runner, {Ph.
         maltiflorus}; Windsor bean, the common bean of England,
         {Faba vulgaris}. As an article of food beans are
         classed with vegetables.
   2. The popular name of other vegetable seeds or fruits, more
      or less resembling true beans.
   {Bean aphis} (Zo["o]l.), a plant louse ({Aphis fab[ae]})
      which infests the bean plant.
   {Bean fly} (Zo["o]l.), a fly found on bean flowers.
   {Bean goose} (Zo["o]l.), a species of goose ({Anser
      segetum}).
   {Bean weevil} (Zo["o]l.), a small weevil that in the larval
      state destroys beans. The American species in {Bruchus
      fab[ae]}.
   {Florida bean} (Bot.), the seed of {Mucuna urens}, a West
      Indian plant. The seeds are washed up on the Florida
      shore, and are often polished and made into ornaments.
   {Ignatius bean}, or {St. Ignatius's bean} (Bot.), a species
      of {Strychnos}.
   {Navy bean}, the common dried white bean of commerce;
      probably so called because an important article of food in
      the navy.
   {Pea bean}, a very small and highly esteemed variety of the
      edible white bean; -- so called from its size.
   {Sacred bean}. See under {Sacred}.
   {Screw bean}. See under {Screw}.
   {Sea bean}.
      (a) Same as {Florida bean}.
      (b) A red bean of unknown species used for ornament.
   {Tonquin bean}, or {Tonka bean}, the fragrant seed of
      {Dipteryx odorata}, a leguminous tree.
   {Vanilla bean}. See under {Vanilla}.
   

2. \ [Prob. fr. a native name.] (Bot.)
   The seed of the wild licorice ({Abrus precatorius}) used by
   the people of India for beads in rosaries and necklaces, as a
   standard weight, etc.; -- called also {jumble bead}.
   

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