soybean
soybean Lexical Profile
soybean Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A bushy, hairy-stemmed annual leguminous plant (Glycine max) of the family Fabaceae, native to East Asia and cultivated worldwide as a major agricultural crop for its nutrient-dense seeds and nitrogen-fixing properties.
"Midwestern farmers frequently rotate corn and soybean crops to naturally replenish nitrogen levels in the soil."
The protein-rich, oil-bearing edible seed or pod of the legume Glycine max, harvested green as a culinary vegetable (such as edamame) or dried and processed into tofu, soy milk, soy sauce, and cooking oil.
"The chef steamed a bowl of fresh green soybeans and sprinkled them lightly with coarse sea salt."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American and Canadian English, the word is standardly spelled 'soybean', whereas in British and Commonwealth English it is typically written as 'soya bean'.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed as a compound of 'soy' and 'bean'; 'soy' entered English in the late 17th century via Dutch 'soja' from Japanese 'shōyu' (soy sauce), which ultimately derives from Chinese 'jiàngyóu'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.