Lens culinaris
- noun
- Specialized
:
lenteja
- Farmers in the region rely on Lens culinaris both for its nutritious seeds and as fodder for livestock.
Examples
-
Several varieties of Lens culinaris are grown depending on local climate and soil conditions.
-
Farmers in India cultivate Lens culinaris extensively.
-
Lens culinaris is the primary species cultivated for lentil consumption worldwide.
-
The Lens culinaris is a vital crop in many Mediterranean countries.
-
Lens culinaris is cultivated for its edible seeds, making it a staple food in many cultures.
-
The farmers planted Lens culinaris in the field to ensure a good harvest for the upcoming season.
-
In addition to its seeds, Lens culinaris is also valued as a green manure for improving soil quality.
Synonyms
26
1.0
A small round seed that you cook and eat, often in soup or stew
A small plant grown for flat edible seeds and leaves used to feed animals
Surface Forms
Morphology
Lens + culinaris
This is a Latin taxonomic binomial: the words function as a scientific label rather than a compositional English phrase, so knowing the English meanings of the parts (or the common noun 'lens') will not lead a B1 learner to 'lentil plant'. Although 'culinaris' resembles English 'culinary' and might hint at edibility, that faint cue does not provide the specific botanical meaning, making the expression unpredictable from its constituents.
Etymology
Lens culinaris comes from Latin words. In Latin, lens was the word for a small, flat seed that looks like a tiny lens and culinaris means 'for the kitchen' or 'for cooking', so the name simply means the lentil used as food.