shell bean

/ʃɛl bin/

Other forms: shell beans

Definitions of shell bean

1. noun

   a bean plant grown primarily for its edible seed rather than its pod
   synonyms: shell bean plant

   types:

   Phaseolus limensis, lima bean, lima bean plant

   bush or tall-growing bean plant having large flat edible seeds

   Phaseolus lunatus, butter bean, butter-bean plant, lima bean, sieva bean

   bush bean plant cultivated especially in southern United States having small flat edible seeds

   Phaseolus acutifolius latifolius, tepary bean

   twining plant of southwestern United States and Mexico having roundish white or yellow or brown or black beans

   English bean, European bean, Vicia faba, broad bean, broad-bean, broad-bean plant, field bean

   Old World upright plant grown especially for its large flat edible seeds but also as fodder

   type of:

   bean, bean plant

   any of various leguminous plants grown for their edible seeds and pods
2. noun

   unripe beans removed from the pod before cooking
   types:

   lima bean

   broad flat beans simmered gently; never eaten raw

   butter bean, butterbean, civet bean, sieva bean

   small flat green bean similar to lima beans

   broad bean, fava bean

   shell beans cooked as lima beans

   green soybean

   seeds shelled and cooked as lima beans

   Fordhooks

   relatively large lima beans

   type of:

   fresh bean

   beans eaten before they are ripe as opposed to dried