noun
Uncommon
lima
LEYE-muh
Lima (noun) means a flat, pale green bean grown for food, or the plant it comes from. Example: “She soaked the dried lima beans overnight before cooking them.”
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."
"He stirred a handful of lima beans into the soup for extra bulk."
"Our neighbour grows lima plants along a fence in the back garden."
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- limas
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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.
Synonyms
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butter bean
Related words
Rhymes for lima
See all rhymes for lima →Frequently asked questions
What does “lima” mean?
The word “lima” means a flat, pale green bean grown for food, or the plant it comes from. In plain terms, usually either the bean you eat or the capital city of Peru — context makes it obvious which.
How do you pronounce “lima”?
“Lima” is pronounced LEYE-muh (/ˈlaɪmə/ in IPA).
How do you use “lima” in a sentence?
Here is “lima” used in a sentence: “She soaked the dried lima beans overnight before cooking them.”
What part of speech is “lima”?
Depending on how it is used, “lima” can be a noun and a name.
Is “lima” a common word?
“Lima” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “lima” have?
“Lima” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flat, pale green bean grown for food, or the plant it comes from.
What is the difference between lima beans and other beans?
Lima beans are a specific type of flat, pale green bean, distinguished from other beans like kidney or black beans by their shape and colour. They are grown for food both as the bean itself and via the plant that produces them.
Is Lima always capitalized?
When referring to the capital city of Peru or to the various towns and townships named Lima in the United States, the word is capitalized as a proper name. When referring to the bean, it is written in lowercase.
Why do lima beans and the city of Lima share a name?
The lima bean takes its name from the city of Lima, Peru, historically a major export point for the bean, even though the two senses of the word now function independently in English.
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