Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Nearby Words

leguminous

 - 3 dictionary results

le⋅gu⋅mi⋅nous

  [li-gyoo-muh-nuhs]
Use leguminous in a Sentence
–adjective
1. pertaining to, of the nature of, or bearing legumes.
2. belonging to the Leguminosae.
Compare legume family.

Origin:
1650–60; < L legūmin- (s. of legūmen; see legume ) + -ous
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To leguminous
le·gu·mi·nous   (lə-gyōō'mə-nəs)   
adj.  

  1. Of, belonging to, or characteristic of the family Leguminosae, which includes peas, beans, clover, alfalfa, and other plants.

  2. Resembling a legume.


[From Middle English and from French légumineux, both from Latin legūminōsus, from legūmen, legūmin-, bean.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
legume   (lěg'ym', lə-gym')  Pronunciation Key 

  1. Any of a large number of eudicot plants belonging to the family Leguminosae (or Fabaceae). Their characteristic fruit is a seed pod. Legumes live in a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in structures called nodules on their roots. These bacteria are able to take nitrogen from the air, which is in a form that plants cannot use, and convert it into compounds that the plants can use. Many legumes are widely cultivated for food, as fodder for livestock, and as a means of improving the nitrogen content of soils. Beans, peas, clover, alfalfa, locust trees, and acacia trees are all legumes.

  2. The seed pod of such a plant.


leguminous adjective
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see leguminous on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way