noun
lima
LEYE-muh
noun
1
A flat, pale green bean grown for food, or the plant it comes from.
"She soaked the dried lima beans overnight before cooking them."
name
1
The capital city of Peru.
"They flew into Lima before heading up to Machu Picchu."
2
The name of several small towns and townships across the United States.
"Lima, Ohio, is the county seat of Allen County."
How to Use Lima
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually either the bean you eat or the capital city of Peru — context makes it obvious which.
Common pairings
lima beans
the city of Lima
Word Forms
limas plural
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She soaked the dried _____ beans overnight before cooking them.
Etymology
The bean's name is a shortening of "Lima bean," named after the Peruvian capital, a major early export point for the crop.