1. Bush or tall-growing bean plant having large flat edible seeds
   "Lima beans are often served in succotash"; "The lima bean plant requires a long growing season";
   - lima bean plant, Phaseolus limensis
    
2. Bush bean plant cultivated especially in southern United States having small flat edible seeds
   "lima beans are a traditional side dish in Southern cooking";
   - sieva bean, butter bean, butter-bean plant, Phaseolus lunatus
    
3. Broad flat beans simmered gently; never eaten raw
   "He added cooked lima beans to the vegetable medley"; "The creamy lima bean soup was a comforting winter dish"

Derived forms: lima beans

Type of: shell bean, shell bean plant

Part of: genus Phaseolus, Phaseolus

Encyclopedia: Lima bean