Leg″ume (lĕg″ū̍m or lē̍‐gūm″), n. [F. légume, L. legumen, fr. legere to gather. So called because they may be gathered without cutting. See Legend.] 1. (Bot.) A pod dehiscent into two pieces or valves, and having the seed attached at one suture, as that of the pea.
☞ In the latter circumstance, it differs from a siliqua, in which the seeds are attached to both sutures. In popular use, a legume is called a pod, or cod; as, pea pod, or peas cod.
2. pl. The fruit of leguminous plants, as peas, beans, lupines; pulse.