legume meaning

legume as a noun

1. an erect or climbing bean or pea plant of the family Leguminosae

   Synonyms: leguminous plant

   Type of: herb, climber

   Kinds: peanut, chickpea, guar, soy, wild pea, lentil, horse gram, locoweed, bean, pea, sesbania, vetch

   Related forms: leguminous

2. the fruit or seed of any of various bean or pea plants consisting of a case that splits along both sides when ripe and having the seeds attach to one side of the case

   Type of: pod

   Kinds: chickpea, lentil, pea, field pea, cowpea

3. the seedpod of a leguminous plant (such as peas or beans or lentils)

   Type of: vegetable

   Kinds: pulse, bean, lentil, pea, chickpea, black-eyed pea

How to pronounce legume

legume is pronounced /ˈlɛɡjum/ in American English. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.