legume

• 指一类植物（如豌豆、豆类或扁豆），其种子生长在豆荚中；也指这些可食用的种子，常作为食物来源。

A noun referring to a type of plant (such as peas, beans, or lentils) that produces seeds in pods, or the edible seeds themselves, commonly used as a food source.

1. Plant of the pea familyB1formaltechnical

   Any plant from the family Fabaceae that grows upright or as a climbing vine; includes beans, peas, lentils, and similar crops.

   豆科植物

   • Farmers rotate legumes with grain crops to enrich the soil with nitrogen.
   • Soybeans are one of the most widely cultivated legumes in the world.
   • The legume plant produces clusters of small flowers before forming pods.
   • In temperate climates, many legumes are grown as a cover crop.

2. Edible fruit or seedB1formalculinary

   The seed or fruit of leguminous plants, usually found inside a pod that splits open when ripe; a common food source rich in protein.

   可食用的果实或种子

   • Lentils and chickpeas are nutritious legumes used in soups and stews.
   • Mung bean sprouts are a popular legume in Asian cuisine.
   • The legume must be soaked overnight before cooking to reduce hardness.
   • Many vegetarians rely on legumes as a primary source of protein.

   同义词beanpeapulse

3. Seedpod of a leguminous plantB2formaltechnical

   The pod or casing that encloses seeds of leguminous plants, which splits naturally when dry to release the seeds.

   豆荚

   • The gardener collected the dried legume pods for next season's planting.
   • Each legume pod can contain between two and ten seeds.
   • As summer ends, the green legume pods turn brown and begin to split.
   • Pods of wild legumes provide food for many birds and small mammals.

   同义词podseedpod