ben

UK: /'bɛn/ US: (ben)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ben¹  (ben), [Scot.]
n. 

1. Scottish Terms the inner or back room of a two-room cottage, esp. when used as a combined parlor and bedroom.

adv., prep. 

2. Scottish Terms within;
   inside.

adj. 

3. Scottish Terms inside;
   inner.

• 1400–50; late Middle English (Scots); as adverb, adverbial, unexplained variant of late Middle English bin, Middle English binne, Old English binnan (cognate with Old Frisian binna, Middle Dutch, German binnen), equivalent. to bi- be- + innan within (compare in)

ben²  (ben), n. 

1. Plant Biology the seed of a tropical tree, Moringa pterygosperma, that yields an oil (ben oil) used in manufacturing cosmetics and lubricating delicate machinery. Cf. horseradish tree.

• Arabic bān
• 1550–60

ben³  (ben), n. [Scot., Irish.]

1. British Terms, Scottish Terms a mountain peak;
   high hill:
   Ben Nevis.

• Scots Gaelic, Irish beann peak
• 1780–90

ben⁴  (ben), n. (often cap.)

1. Foreign Terms son of (used esp. in Hebrew and Arabic names):
   Moses ben Maimon.

Ben  (ben), n. 

1. a male given name, form of Benjamin. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ben / bɛn/ noun

1. an inner room in a house or cottage

preposition , adverb

1. in; within; inside; into the inner part (of a house)

Compare but2Etymology: Old English binnan, from be- + innan inside