Real Dictionary

lentil
Lentils are the seeds of a lentil plant. They are usually dried and are used to make soups and stews.

lentil in American English
an Old World plant (Lens culinaris) of the pea family with small, edible seeds shaped like biconvex lenses
noun: a plant, Lens culinaris, of the legume family, having flattened, biconvex seeds used as food

lentil in British English
noun: a small annual leguminous plant, Lens culinaris, of the Mediterranean region and W Asia, having edible brownish convex seeds