bean

A seed or seed case eaten as food, or the plant that produces it.

• I put beans in the soup.
• We planted beans beside the fence.
• Do you prefer fresh beans or dried beans?

Common phrases: green bean, kidney bean, bean soup, bean plant

A seed such as coffee or cocoa, or a long vanilla seed case.

• These coffee beans smell wonderful.
• Chocolate is made from cocoa beans.
• She added the seeds from a vanilla bean.

Common phrases: coffee bean, cocoa bean, vanilla bean, roast a bean

Money, especially the smallest amount, usually when saying you have none.

• I haven't got a bean.
• He arrived in London without a bean.
• That broken watch isn't worth a bean.

Similar words: penny, cent

Common phrases: not a bean, without a bean, worth a bean

To hit someone on the head with a thrown object, especially a ball.

• The pitcher beaned the batter.
• A badly thrown ball beaned me yesterday.
• Be careful you don't bean anyone with that snowball.

How to use it: bean someone with something (He accidentally beaned his brother with a tennis ball.)

Common phrases: bean the batter, bean someone, bean someone accidentally