Definition

Noun: 1. A large, round, pale seed (legume) from a plant of the pea family, used as food, often dried. It is a staple ingredient in many cuisines, known for its nutty flavor and firm texture. 2. The plant (Cicer arietinum) that produces these seeds. It is a bushy annual plant with small, feathery leaves and pods containing one or two seeds.

Examples

• Noun (Seed):
  • I added a can of chickpeas to the vegetable stew.
  • Hummus is traditionally made from mashed chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic.
  • Dried chickpeas need to be soaked overnight before cooking.
• Noun (Plant):
  • The chickpea plant is drought-tolerant and grows well in warm climates.
  • Farmers harvest the chickpea when the pods turn brown.

Advanced Usage

• "Chickpea flour" (also called gram flour or besan): A flour made from ground dried chickpeas, used in baking and to make dishes like socca or pakoras.
  • The recipe for the flatbread calls for chickpea flour.
• "Chickpea water (aquafaba)": The viscous liquid from a can of chickpeas, which can be whipped into a foam and used as an egg white substitute in vegan cooking.
  • She used aquafaba to make a vegan meringue.

Variants and Related Words

• Garbanzo bean (n): Another common name for the chickpea, used especially in American English.
  • The salad recipe lists garbanzo beans as an ingredient.
• Gram (n): A term, common in Indian English, for the chickpea or its products (e.g., gram flour).
• Cicer arietinum (n): The scientific (Latin) name for the chickpea plant.

Synonyms

• Garbanzo: (noun) Direct synonym.
• Pulse: (noun) A general term for the edible seeds of legumes, including chickpeas, lentils, and beans.

Noun

1. large white roundish Asiatic legume; usually dried
2. Asiatic herb cultivated for its short pods with one or two edible seeds
3. the seed of the chickpea plant