Bean

n.
  1. (Bot.) A name given to the seed of certain leguminous herbs, chiefly of the genera Faba, Phaseolus, and Dolichos; also, to the herbs.
  2. The popular name of other vegetable seeds or fruits, more or less resembling true beans.
    3. Bean aphis (Zoöl.),
    a plant louse (Aphis fabæ) which infests the bean plant.
    Bean fly (Zoöl.),
    a fly found on bean flowers.
    Bean goose (Zoöl.),
    a species of goose (Anser segetum).
    Bean weevil (Zoöl.),
    a small weevil that in the larval state destroys beans. The American species is Bruchus fabæ.
    Florida bean (Bot.),
    the seed of Mucuna urens, a West Indian plant. The seeds are washed up on the Florida shore, and are often polished and made into ornaments.
    Ignatius bean, or St. Ignatius's bean (Bot.),
    a species of Strychnos.
    Navy bean ,
    the common dried white bean of commerce; probably so called because an important article of food in the navy.
    Pea bean ,
    a very small and highly esteemed variety of the edible white bean; -- so called from its size.
    Sacred bean .
    See under Sacred.
    Screw bean .
    See under Screw.
    Sea bean
    1. Same as Florida bean.
    2. A red bean of unknown species used for ornament.
    Tonquin bean, or Tonka bean ,
    the fragrant seed of Dipteryx odorata, a leguminous tree.
    Vanilla bean .
    See under Vanilla.