Definition

Noun A thin, crisp, white shoot that grows from a germinated bean seed, typically eaten raw or lightly cooked as a vegetable. Bean sprouts are commonly produced from mung beans, soybeans, or lentils.

Usage

Bean sprouts are used as a noun to refer to the edible sprout itself. They are a common ingredient, especially in East and Southeast Asian cuisines. - As a countable noun (often used in plural): Refers to the individual shoots or a quantity of them. Example: Add the bean sprouts to the stir-fry just before serving. - As an uncountable/mass noun: Refers to the food item in general. Example: This salad needs more bean sprout.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "bean sprout" as a modifier: The term can be used attributively to describe other nouns.

Variants and Related Words

• Sprout (n): A general term for a new growth from a plant seed. "Bean sprout" is a specific type of sprout.
• Mung bean sprout (n): The most common type of bean sprout in many cuisines.
• Soybean sprout (n): A thicker, yellow-headed sprout commonly used in Korean cuisine ().

Synonyms

• Edible sprout: A general term for any sprout consumed as food.

Related Phrases

• Sprouted beans: This phrase refers to the beans that have begun to germinate and produce sprouts. While related, "sprouted beans" emphasizes the whole bean with its new growth, whereas "bean sprout" typically refers specifically to the pale shoot that is harvested.

Noun

1. any of various sprouted beans: especially mung beans or lentils or edible soybeans