1. a leguminous plant (member of the pea family), especially one grown as a crop: "he sows a mixture of grasses and legumes"
▪ a seed, pod, or other edible part of a leguminous plant, used as food: "the new diet is high in fruit, vegetables, and legumes"
▪ the long seed pod of a leguminous plant.
Word Originlate 16th century (denoting the edible portion of the plant): from French légume, from Latin legumen, from legere ‘to pick’ (because the fruit may be picked by hand).