[syn: soy, soybean, soya, soya bean]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Soybean \Soy"bean\ (soi"b[=e]n`), n.
1. (Bot.) An Asiatic leguminous herb (Glycine max, formerly
Glycine Soja) the seeds of which (also called soy
beans) are used in preparing the sauce called soy.
Called also soya bean and soya.
[1913 Webster]
2. the seeds of the Glycine max, which produce soybean
oil; -- called also soya bean.
[PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
soya bean
n 1: a source of oil; used for forage and soil improvement and
as food [syn: soy, soybean, soya bean]
2: erect bushy hairy annual herb having trifoliate leaves and
purple to pink flowers; extensively cultivated for food and
forage and soil improvement but especially for its nutritious
oil-rich seeds; native to Asia [syn: soy, soya,
soybean, soya bean, soybean plant, soja, soja bean,
Glycine max]
3: the most highly proteinaceous vegetable known; the fruit of
the soybean plant is used in a variety of foods and as fodder
(especially as a replacement for animal protein) [syn: soy,
soybean, soya, soya bean]