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hyacinth bean

hyacinth bean

7.6
A climbing plant with purple flowers and pods that hold edible seeds
  • noun
  • /ˈhaɪəsɪnθ biːn/
  • Indian
translation icon : frijol jacinto
  • The hyacinth bean produces beautiful purple flowers.

Examples

  • They planted hyacinth bean vines along the garden fence for their beautiful flowers and decorative pods.

  • The gardener decided to grow hyacinth bean for its beautiful purple flowers and tasty seeds.

  • A single hyacinth bean plant can quickly cover a trellis with its lush, leafy vines.

  • The young pods of the hyacinth bean are often cooked and eaten as a vegetable in Indian cuisine.

  • Many gardeners love hyacinth beans for their fragrance.

  • In the summer, hyacinth bean vines can add vibrant colors to your garden while providing edible pods.

  • She enjoyed cooking with the fresh seeds from the hyacinth bean plant, which she harvested from her backyard.

Synonyms

lablab
vshyacinth bean
9.9

A tropical plant with purple flowers that makes edible beans for people and animals

focuses on ornamental and vegetable use rather than forage
Lablab purpureus
vshyacinth bean
  • Specialized
9.9

A climbing plant with fragrant purple flowers and maroon edible pods often grown as a garden plant and vegetable

is the common ornamental and vegetable form known in South Asia
Dolichos lablab
vshyacinth bean
  • Specialized
9.9

A climbing plant with purple flowers and dark red pods that contain edible beans and is grown in gardens

is the modern common name used for gardening and food
bonavist
vshyacinth bean
  • Indian
9.9

A climbing plant with three-part leaves, purple pea-like flowers, and seeds in dark red pods

is the regional ornamental and vegetable variety popular in South Asia
Indian bean
vshyacinth bean
  • Indian
7.5

A climbing plant with purple flowers and dark red pods containing edible seeds

is the same plant named more by its regional culinary use
Egyptian bean
vshyacinth bean
  • Indian
8.4

A climbing plant with purple flowers and dark red pods that have edible seeds and are used as a vegetable

is the regional South Asian name used more commonly there

How Edible

green bean
  • Indian
1 1.0
hyacinth bean
  • Indian
7.6

Surface Forms

hyacinth bean singular

Morphology

hyacinth + bean

This is a directly compositional noun: 'hyacinth' (a flowering plant) + 'bean' (an edible seed/plant) yields a type of bean/plant associated with hyacinth-like flowers. A B1 learner who knows both constituent words can readily infer it denotes a plant/bean with showy/fragrant flowers rather than an idiomatic or unpredictable meaning, so it is transparent.

Etymology

Hyacinth bean may come from the plant's deep purple flowers that look like a hyacinth and from its edible bean pods. So the name simply describes a 'bean' plant known for its hyacinth-coloured flowers.