Definition

1. Noun:
   • A variety of bean plant: "English runner bean" refers to a specific type of bean plant (Phaseolus coccineus) cultivated for its edible pods and seeds.
   • The edible pod of this plant: More commonly, it refers to the long, flat, green pods produced by this plant, which are harvested and eaten whole while young and tender. These pods are a popular vegetable.

Usage

The term "English runner bean" is used primarily to identify this specific vegetable, especially in culinary and gardening contexts. It distinguishes this variety from other types of green beans or runner beans.

Examples

• Noun:
  • For dinner, we had roast chicken with boiled English runner beans.
  • My grandmother grows English runner beans up a trellis in her garden.
  • The recipe calls for two handfuls of fresh English runner beans, sliced.

Advanced Usage

• The term can specify the preferred variety or preparation style common in British cuisine, where the pods are typically sliced diagonally into short lengths before cooking.

Variants and Related Words

• Runner bean (n): A more general term for the same plant and its pods. "English runner bean" is a specific type or common name for it in certain regions.
• Scarlet runner bean (n): Another name for the same species, often used when referring to the plant's ornamental red flowers.

Synonyms

• Green bean (n): A general term for the edible pods of various bean plants, which can include runner beans.
• String bean (n): An older term for similar edible-pod beans, though modern varieties often have reduced strings.

Notes

• Unlike shelling beans (e.g., kidney beans), English runner beans are consumed for their fleshy pods, with the immature seeds inside.
• The preparation often involves "stringing" or removing the fibrous thread along the pod's seam, though many modern cultivars are "stringless."

Noun

1. long bean pods usually sliced into half-inch lengths; a favorite in Britain