1. Old World upright plant grown for its large flat edible seeds and as fodder
   "Broad-beans are a popular ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine"; "broad-bean plants are a popular ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine";
   - broad bean, broad-bean plant, English bean, European bean, field bean, Vicia faba

1. Seed of the broad-bean plant
   "Broad beans were a staple in many traditional recipes";
   - fava bean [N. Amer], horsebean, fava [N. Amer]
    
2. A bean plant cultivated for use as animal fodder
   "They planted broad beans as a sustainable feed source for their livestock";
   - horse bean
    
3. Shell beans cooked as lima beans
   "The chef featured tender broad beans in a spring vegetable risotto";
   - fava bean [N. Amer], fava [N. Amer]

Derived forms: broad-beans, broad beans

Type of: bean, fodder, shell bean, shell bean plant

Part of: genus Vicia, Vicia

Encyclopedia: Broad bean