1 jumping bean | Definition of jumping bean
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

jumping bean

noun

Definition of jumping bean

: a seed of any of several Mexican shrubs (genera Sebastiania and Sapium) of the spurge family that tumbles about because of the movements of the larva of a small tortricid moth (Cydia saltitans synonym C. deshaisiana) inside it

Examples of jumping bean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 In the Shakespeare Studio, teacher Jo Gray lobs imaginary jumping beans into the mouths of children from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. — Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "First Stage actors, MYSO musicians learn from pros at Milwaukee Youth Arts Center," 9 May 2018 Australia's Alison Wonderland will be a jumping bean behind the decks. — Kat Bein, Billboard, "EDC China 2018 Announces Lineup With Martin Garrix, deadmau5, Hardwell & More," 28 Feb. 2018 Still, the patients’ stories wriggled like jumping beans in my brain. — Julie Rehmeyer, Slate Magazine, "How to Assess Internet Cures Without Falling for Dangerous Pseudoscience," 12 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'jumping bean.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of jumping bean

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for jumping bean

jumping bean

noun

English Language Learners Definition of jumping bean

: a seed that moves when a small insect moves inside it

See the full definition for jumping bean in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on jumping bean

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with jumping bean

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!