VocabDictionary

legume

/ˈlɛɡ.juːm/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.noun

A plant in the Fabaceae family, or the edible seed or pod of such a plant, characterized by its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil.

Example Sentences:
  • Lentils, chickpeas, and soybeans are all types of legumes that provide high protein content.
  • Farmers often rotate crops with legumes to naturally enrich the soil with nitrogen.
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “legume”.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from the French word 'légume', which originally referred to all vegetables. This traces back to the Latin 'legumen', from the verb 'legere', meaning 'to gather' or 'to pick', because these crops were traditionally harvested by hand rather than reaped like grains.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of 'Leg-umes' as plants you gather by hand using your 'legs' to walk through the garden.

Frequently Asked Questions About “legume

1. What is the meaning of “legume” in English?

In English, legume (noun) is defined as: “A plant in the Fabaceae family, or the edible seed or pod of such a plant, characterized by its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil.”.

2. How do you use “legume” in a sentence?

Lentils, chickpeas, and soybeans are all types of legumes that provide high protein content.

3. What are English synonyms of “legume”?

Common synonyms include:pulse,bean,pea,lentil,vetch

4. What is the etymology and word origin of “legume”?

Derived from the French word 'légume', which originally referred to all vegetables. This traces back to the Latin 'legumen', from the verb 'legere', meaning 'to gather' or 'to pick', because these crops were traditionally harvested by hand rather than reaped like grains.