Pulse vs. Legume — What's the Difference?

A pulse is any edible seed from the legume family used as dry grains.

The term legume covers a range of plants including edible and non-edible types.

A characteristic of pulses is their high fiber content.

In addition to food, some legumes are used in cover cropping to protect soil.

Pulses are considered essential in plant-based diets for their protein.

Legumes are members of the plant family Leguminosae, notable for their nitrogen-fixing capabilities.

Pulses include crops like chickpeas, which are often used in dried form.

Some legumes are grown for their leaves and roots, not just seeds.

Dried pulses are a staple in many global cuisines.

Legumes can be both annual and perennial plants.

In medicine, a pulse represents the tactile arterial palpation of the cardiac cycle (heartbeat) by trained fingertips. The pulse may be palpated in any place that allows an artery to be compressed near the surface of the body, such as at the neck (carotid artery), wrist (radial artery), at the groin (femoral artery), behind the knee (popliteal artery), near the ankle joint (posterior tibial artery), and on foot (dorsalis pedis artery).

A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse.

The rhythmical throbbing of arteries produced by the regular contractions of the heart, especially as palpated at the wrist or in the neck.

A plant of the pea family.

A regular or rhythmical beating.

A pod of such a plant, which splits into two valves with the seeds attached to one edge of the valves.

A single beat or throb.

Such a pod or seed used as food. Peas, beans, and lentils are legumes.

A brief sudden change in a normally constant quantity

(botany) The fruit or seed of leguminous plants (as peas or beans) used for food.

Any of a series of intermittent occurrences characterized by a brief sudden change in a quantity.

(botany) Any of a large family (Fabaceae, syn. Leguminosae) of dicotyledonous herbs, shrubs, and trees having fruits that are legumes or loments, bearing nodules on the roots that contain nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and including important food and forage plants (as peas, beans, or clovers).

The perceptible emotions or sentiments of a group of people

(botany) A pod dehiscent into two pieces or valves, and having the seed attached at one suture, as that of the pea.

The edible seeds of certain pod-bearing plants, such as lentils and chickpeas.

A pod dehiscent into two pieces or valves, and having the seed attached at one suture, as that of the pea.

A plant yielding these seeds.

The fruit of leguminous plants, as peas, beans, lupines; pulse.

To pulsate; beat

An erect or climbing bean or pea plant of the family Leguminosae

(Physics) To undergo a series of intermittent occurrences characterized by brief, sudden changes in a quantity.

The fruit or seed of any of various bean or pea plants consisting of a two-valved case that splits along both sides when ripe and having the seeds attached to one edge of the valves

To chop in short bursts, as in a food processor

The seedpod of a leguminous plant (such as peas or beans or lentils)

(physiology)

The nature or rate of this beat as an indication of a person's health.

(figuratively) A beat or throb; also, a repeated sequence of such beats or throbs.

(figuratively) The focus of energy or vigour of an activity, place, or thing; also, the feeling of bustle, busyness, or energy in a place; the heartbeat.

An (increased) amount of a substance (such as a drug or an isotopic label) given over a short time.

A setting on a food processor which causes it to work in a series of short bursts rather than continuously, in order to break up ingredients without liquidizing them; also, a use of this setting.

The beat or tactus of a piece of music or verse; also, a repeated sequence of such beats.

(physics)

A brief burst of electromagnetic energy, such as light, radio waves, etc.

Synonym of autosoliton

A brief increase in the strength of an electrical signal; an impulse.

(uncountable) Annual leguminous plants (such as beans, lentils, and peas) yielding grains or seeds used as food for humans or animals; (countable) such a plant; a legume.

(uncountable) Edible grains or seeds from leguminous plants, especially in a mature, dry condition; (countable) a specific kind of such a grain or seed.

To emit or impel (something) in pulses or waves.

To give to (something, especially a cell culture) an (increased) amount of a substance, such as a drug or an isotopic label, over a short time.

To operate a food processor on (some ingredient) in short bursts, to break it up without liquidizing it.

To apply an electric current or signal that varies in strength to (something).

To manipulate (an electric current, electromagnetic wave, etc.) so that it is emitted in pulses.

Of an activity, place, or thing: to bustle with energy and liveliness; to pulsate.

Leguminous plants, or their seeds, as beans, pease, etc.

Any measured or regular beat; any short, quick motion, regularly repeated, as of a medium in the transmission of light, sound, etc.; oscillation; vibration; pulsation; impulse; beat; movement.

To beat, as the arteries; to move in pulses or beats; to pulsate; to throb.

To drive by a pulsation; to cause to pulsate.

(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients);

The rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart;

The rate at which the heart beats; usually measured to obtain a quick evaluation of a person's health

Edible seeds of various pod-bearing plants (peas or beans or lentils etc.)

Expand and contract rhythmically; beat rhythmically;

Produce or modulate (as electromagnetic waves) in the form of short bursts or pulses or cause an apparatus to produce pulses;

Drive by or as if by pulsation;

Pulses are particularly high in protein and fiber, making them excellent for diet and digestion.

Yes, all pulses are legumes, specifically the type that are harvested for their dry seeds.

No, peanuts are considered a legume but not a pulse because they are not used as dry grains.

Pulses are the edible seeds of plants in the legume family, typically used as dry grains.

Common pulses include lentils, chickpeas, and various types of beans.

Yes, some legumes like alfalfa and clover are primarily used in agriculture rather than as food.

Legumes are used in cover cropping, soil enrichment, and even in some industrial applications like bioplastics.

Pulses generally have a low fat content, making them a healthy dietary option.

Legumes are plants belonging to the Leguminosae family, which can include everything from small shrubs to large trees with various uses.

Legumes can fix nitrogen in the soil, making it more fertile and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.

Pulses are unique due to their specific use as dried seeds for human consumption.

Dishes ranging from soups and stews to salads and side dishes commonly feature pulses.

Yes, many legumes like soybeans are also used as animal feed.

Their ability to fix nitrogen reduces reliance on synthetic fertilizers, enhancing sustainability.

Pulses are specifically the dry seeds, whereas other legumes may include various parts of the plant.