beanshaped

Beanshaped is an informal descriptive term used to characterize objects whose silhouette resembles a kidney bean or bean seed: typically a rounded, two-lobed body joined by a relatively narrow waist, often with a slight indentation on one side. The form is not a formal geometric category but a practical shorthand in fields that study shape and form.

In practice, beanshaped shapes are described by the arrangement of two lobes, the width of the waist, and the depth of the indentation; common measures include overall length, maximum width, and the ratio between them, as well as curvature on each side.

Occurrences: In nature, the term is commonly applied to seeds such as kidney beans and other legume seeds that mature with a bean-like outline. In biology and microbiology, certain cells, organisms, or organelles may appear beanshaped, especially during development or under specific growth conditions. In design and manufacturing, beanshaped silhouettes are used for ergonomic handles, bottle shapes, or capsules where a compact profile and pinch-point avoidance are desired.

Analysis: Image analysis and geometric modeling can approximate a beanshaped form with composite curves or asymmetrical lenses; software may compute descriptors such as lobedness, waist width, and indentation depth to compare shapes.

See also: kidney bean, bean curve, lentil.