a leguminous tropical climbing plant, Vigna sinensis, producing long pods containing edible pealike seeds: grown for animal fodder and sometimes as human food
2. Also called: black-eyed pea
the seed of this plant
cowpea in American English
(ˈkaʊˌpi)
US
noun
1.
a viny annual plant (Vigna unguiculata) of the pea family, bearing seeds in slender pods: grown in S U.S. for forage, green manure, etc.
2.
the edible seed of this plant, cooked as a vegetable; black-eyed pea