Main Entry:

soy·bean

Pronunciation:

\ˈsȯi-ˌbēn\

Variant(s):

also soya bean \ˈsȯi-ə-\

Function:

noun

Date:

1802

: a hairy annual Asian legume (Glycine max) widely grown for its oil-rich proteinaceous seeds and for forage and soil improvement ; also : its seed

[soybean illustration]