legume
LEG-yoom
/ˈleɡjuːm/
A plant in the family Fabaceae, or the fruit or seed of such a plant (e.g., beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas).
While often used interchangeably with 'beans', 'legume' is the broader botanical category that includes everything from peanuts to clover.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'legere', meaning 'to gather'. Legumes were named this because they were traditionally picked or gathered by hand rather than reaped like grain.
Word relationships
- pulse: A pulse is specifically the dried seed of a legume (like a dried lentil), whereas legume refers to the whole plant.
Commonly confused with
- vegetable: All legumes are vegetables, but not all vegetables (like spinach) are legumes.
Word family
- leguminous (adjective): Relating to or consisting of legumes.
Collocations
- dried legumes
- legume family
- source of legumes
Example sentences
- "The humble legume is the cornerstone of many traditional diets, providing a cheap and sustainable source of protein." Culinary description.
- "Legumes are unique because they can fix nitrogen in the soil, making them essential for crop rotation." Agricultural science.
Memory hook
Think of a 'leg'—the beanstalk has 'legs' that grow deep into the soil to gather nitrogen. Gathered by hand.
When not to use
Don't use this for general vegetables like broccoli or carrots; they are not in the Fabaceae family.
Fun facts
- Peanuts are actually legumes, not true nuts, because they grow in pods underground.
Related words
Explore more words
cover crop, botanical, heirloom, crop, crop rotation, biodiverse
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