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Glite Dictionary
civet bean

civet bean

9.3
A small flat green bean like a lima bean used for food
  • noun
translation icon : frijol civeta
  • The farmer harvested several civet beans from his garden for tonight's stew.

Examples

  • I've never tasted civet beans before, but I've heard they're quite similar to lima beans.

  • I bought some civet beans at the farmer's market.

  • Cooks often substitute civet beans when they can't find lima beans at the market.

  • The chef used a civet bean in her special recipe.

  • Cooks often substitute civet beans when they can't find lima beans at the market.

  • I've never tasted civet beans before, but I've heard they're quite similar to lima beans.

  • The farmer harvested several civet beans from his garden for tonight's stew.

Synonyms

lima bean
vscivet bean
9 2.5

A flat pale green or white bean that people cook and eat

is typically green rather than pale or white in description
lima
vscivet bean
9 2.6

A flat pale green or white bean often used in cooking

is mentioned as only sometimes used for food rather than a common cooking ingredient
butterbean
vscivet bean
1 2.6

A small flat bean with a mild taste used as a vegetable

is eaten only occasionally rather than commonly as a cooked vegetable
butter bean
vscivet bean
  • US
1 2.0

A plant that makes large flat beans people cook and eat

is not limited to that region and is used sometimes as food
sieva bean
vscivet bean
  • US
6.9

A small flat green bean or the plant that grows it eaten as food

is used only sometimes for food rather than mainly grown commercially

Surface Forms

civet bean singular
civet beans plural

Morphology

civet + bean

The noun-noun compound is compositionally built from 'civet' (an entity associated with civet coffee/animal) + 'bean', so a B1 learner who knows both words will infer it denotes a kind of bean related to civets or civet coffee. This follows a common modifier+head pattern and is therefore predictable, even if precise botanical details are not recoverable from the constituents.

Etymology

Civet bean likely takes its name from the word civet (a small animal) and bean. One simple story says the bean was called this because it grew or was sold in places where civets were common, so people started using the name 'civet bean' for the small, flat green edible bean we know today.