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Glite Dictionary
Manila bean

Manila bean

9.9
A tropical climbing plant with winged pods used in cooking
  • noun
  • Philippine
translation icon : frijol de Manila
  • Chefs use the young pods of the Manila bean in stir-fried dishes and salads.

Examples

  • Farmers in Southeast Asia cultivate Manila bean for its nutritious pods and roots.

  • The Manila bean thrives in warm, humid climates and is valued for its versatility.

  • The Manila bean plant grows well in tropical climates.

  • Have you ever tasted Manila beans before?

  • Farmers in Southeast Asia cultivate Manila bean for its nutritious pods and roots.

  • Chefs use the young pods of the Manila bean in stir-fried dishes and salads.

  • The Manila bean thrives in warm, humid climates and is valued for its versatility.

Synonyms

Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
vsManila bean
  • Specialized
9.9

A tropical climbing plant with edible winged pods, seeds, roots, and leaves

is the common ordinary name used outside scientific contexts
goa bean vine
vsManila bean
  • Indian
9.9

A climbing plant with purple flowers and edible pods with four winged edges

describes the plant mainly by botanical features rather than by use
winged pea
vsManila bean
  • Indian
9.9

A tropical climbing plant with edible pods that have four jagged wings and roots that store food

is used as a common local name focusing on general features rather than formal identification
winged bean
vsManila bean
  • Indian
6.9

A tropical climbing plant with edible pods that have four raised edges and thick edible roots

focuses on native origin and botanical form rather than human cultivation
goa bean
vsManila bean
  • Indian
9.9

A tropical climbing plant with four-winged pods eaten as a vegetable

gives botanical details like tuberous roots and purplish flowers rather than crop use

Surface Forms

Manila bean singular
Manila beans plural

Morphology

Manila + bean

The noun 'Manila bean' is compositionally built from the place-name 'Manila' + the noun 'bean', so a learner who knows both words can reasonably infer it denotes a bean associated with Manila/the Philippines or a variety named after that place. This follows the common cross-linguistic pattern of place-name + noun for product or cultivar names and is not idiomatic, making it transparent to B1 learners who know the constituents.

Etymology

Manila bean may come from the city Manila plus the ordinary word bean, because these winged beans were often grown or sold there — picture long jagged pods on market stalls. That's why Manila bean now means 'a tropical, winged bean used as a vegetable'.