scarlet runner n tropical American bean with red flowers and mottled black beans similar to Phaseolus vulgaris but perennial; a preferred food bean in Great Britain n hairy trailing or prostrate western Australian vine with bright scarlet-pink flowers n long bean pods usually sliced into half-inch lengths; a favorite in Britain Synonym(s) scarlet runner bean Dutch case-knife bean runner bean Phaseolus coccineus Phaseolus multiflorus running postman Kennedia prostrata English runner bean