pea
oxford
views updated May 29 2018pea / pē/ •
n. 1. a spherical green seed that is widely eaten as a vegetable. ∎ any of a number of edible spherical seeds of the pea family, e.g., chickpea and black-eyed pea. 2. the widely cultivated Eurasian climbing plant (Pisum sativum) that yields pods containing these seeds. The pea family (Leguminosae, or Fabaceae) is sometimes divided among three smaller families: Papilionaceae (peas, beans, clovers, vetches, brooms, laburnums), Mimosaceae (mimosas, acacias), and Caesalpiniaceae (cassia, carob, and many tropical timber trees). ∎ used in names of other plants of this family that yield round seeds or have flowers resembling those of the pea, e.g., sweet pea.PHRASES: like peas (or two peas) in a pod so similar as to be indistinguishable or nearly so.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
pea
oxford
views updated May 11 2018pea 1.. (
garden pea) See
PISUM.
2.. (
wild pea,
sweet pea) See
LATHYRUS.
3.. (
Sturt's desert pea) See
CLIANTHUS.
A Dictionary of Plant Sciences MICHAEL ALLABY
pea
oxford
views updated Jun 11 2018pea Climbing annual plant (Pisum sativum), probably native to
w Asia. It has small oval leaves and white flowers that give rise to pods containing wrinkled or smooth seeds. The seeds are a popular vegetable. It grows to 1.8m (6ft). Family Fabaceae/Leguminosae.
World Encyclopedia
PEA
oxford
views updated Jun 11 2018PEA Physical Education Association of
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH
pea
oxford
views updated May 17 2018pea (round seed of) the plant
Pisum sativum. XVII. Evolved as if a sg. from
PEASE apprehended as a pl.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD