legume

  1. Noun.  The fruit or seed of leguminous plants (as peas or beans) used for food.
  2. Noun.  Any of a large family (Leguminosae syn. Fabaceae) of dicotyledonous herbs, shrubs, and trees having fruits that are legumes or loments, bearing nodules on the roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and including important food and forage plants (as peas, beans, or clovers).
  3. Noun.  A pod dehiscent into two pieces or valves, and having the seed attached at one suture, as that of the pea.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.