| pea family n. A large and widespread family of plants, the Leguminosae (Fabaceae), characterized by stipulate, usually compound leaves, often bilaterally symmetrical flowers, and legume fruits and including important food plants such as beans, peas, and soybeans. |
| pea family | |
noun | |
| a large family of trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs bearing bean pods; divided for convenience into the subfamilies Caesalpiniaceae; Mimosaceae; Papilionaceae [syn: Leguminosae] |