bean

Meaning

Noun

1. Any plant of several genera of the taxonomic family Fabaceae that produces large edible seeds or edible seedpods.
2. The large edible seed of such a plant (for example, a broad bean, navy bean, or garbanzo bean).
3. The edible seedpod of such a plant.
4. The bean-like seed of certain other plants, such as a vanilla bean or (especially) a coffee bean.
5. An object resembling a pea or bean in shape, often made from plastic or styrofoam and used in large numbers as packing material or as stuffing for beanbags and similar items.
6. (slang) The head or brain.
7. (slang) The human clitoris.
8. (slang) A person; especially, a baby.
9. (slang) A guinea coin.
10. (slang) Money.
11. Clipping of JavaBean.
12. (slang) Any form of tablet, especially benzedrine (benny).

Verb

To hit deliberately with a projectile, especially in the head.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/biːn/

Etymology

From Middle English bene, from Old English bēan, from Proto-West Germanic *baunu, from Proto-Germanic *baunō (“bean”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰabʰ- (“bean”). Cognate with Scots bene, bein (“bean”), West Frisian bean (“bean”), Dutch boon (“bean”), German Bohne (“bean”),
Swedish böna (“bean”),
Danish bønne (“bean”), Norwegian bønne (“bean”), Icelandic baun (“bean”), Latin faba (“bean”), Russian боб (bob, “bean”), Serbo-Croatian бо̏б/bȍb. Doublet of fava.