noun
lupin
LOO-pihn
Lupin (noun) means a tall garden plant with dense spikes of colourful flowers, in the pea family. Example: “Rows of purple and pink lupins lined the cottage garden.”
noun
1
A tall garden plant with dense spikes of colourful flowers, in the pea family.
"Rows of purple and pink lupins lined the cottage garden."
2
The edible bean-like seed of certain lupin plants, eaten as a snack in some Mediterranean and Latin American countries.
"Salted lupin beans are a popular bar snack in parts of Italy."
How to use lupin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tall flowering garden plant, or the edible seed of some varieties of it.
Common mistake
Raw or improperly prepared lupin beans can be toxic — they need to be soaked and processed before eating.
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Word forms
- Plural
- lupins
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Rows of purple and pink _____ lined the cottage garden.
Etymology
From Latin lupinus ("of the wolf"), possibly because the plant was thought to "wolf" nutrients from the soil, or because of the fang-like shape inside its flower.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “lupin” mean?
The word “lupin” means a tall garden plant with dense spikes of colourful flowers, in the pea family. In plain terms, a tall flowering garden plant, or the edible seed of some varieties of it.
How do you pronounce “lupin”?
“Lupin” is pronounced LOO-pihn (/ˈluːpɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “lupin” in a sentence?
Here is “lupin” used in a sentence: “Rows of purple and pink lupins lined the cottage garden.”
What part of speech is “lupin”?
“Lupin” is a noun.
Where does the word “lupin” come from?
The word “lupin” comes from Latin. From Latin lupinus ("of the wolf"), possibly because the plant was thought to "wolf" nutrients from the soil, or because of the fang-like shape inside its flower.
How many meanings does “lupin” have?
“Lupin” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a tall garden plant with dense spikes of colourful flowers, in the pea family.
