whey

noun \ ˈhwā , ˈwā \

Definition of whey

:the watery part of milk that is separated from the coagulable part or curd especially in the process of making cheese and that is rich in lactose, minerals, and vitamins and contains lactalbumin and traces of fat

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wheylike

play \ˈhwā-ˌlīk, ˈwā-\ adjective

See whey defined for English-language learners

See whey defined for kids

Examples of whey in a Sentence

The curd has separated from the whey.

Recent Examples of whey from the Web

Buzzy ingredients like whey protein and chia seeds are paired with 29 grams of sugar, which is no unicorn Frappuccino but still a lot.

— ella ceron, Teen Vogue, "Where to Buy Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Oreos, and More," 22 Aug. 2017
A simple, inexpensive whey protein may offer an effective way to accelerate the repair process after the game.

— NOLA.com, "Optimum Performance: An NFL player's ability to recover is the ball game," 18 Aug. 2017
Protein is now available in a wide variety powders, including whey, hemp, soy and pea.

— alexandra sifferlin, Time, "The Best Exercise For Fat Loss: This Week in Health," 17 Aug. 2017
Output in the EU -- the second-biggest producer behind India -- may dip 3 percent this year amid a drop in milk-fat content and higher processing returns from using milk to make cheese and whey, the European Commission said in a July report.

— megan durisin, Bloomberg.com, "Europe’s Butter Mountain Has Melted Away," 27 July 2017
The state ranks second in the nation for exports of cheese and whey, and first for exports of cranberries, sweet corn, ginseng, bovine genetics and raw fur skins.

— rick barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "U.S. farmers fear trade war if Trump penalizes imports of steel, aluminum," 11 July 2017
Once curds have drained, remove them with a strainer and add to the whey on the stove.

— nancy miller, The Courier-Journal, "It may be fast-casual food, but Red Herring's menu 'isn't a joke'," 11 July 2017
Today, butter is undergoing an artisanal renaissance akin to chocolate or coffee, with handmade sheep’s butter or hard-to-find whey butter joining the standard stick of sweet cream at the table.

— nicola twilley, The Atlantic, "Butter Is Back," 22 May 2017
The Idaho Conservation League had questioned whether dumping there violated Idaho waste-disposal and groundwater-protection regulations, and whether cattle should be eating the whey byproduct.

— idahostatesman, "Catch up on Idaho business news: May 2017," 16 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whey.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of whey

Middle English, from Old English hwæg; akin to Middle Dutch wey whey

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

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WHEY Defined for English Language Learners

whey

noun

Definition of whey for English Language Learners

: the watery part of milk that forms after the milk becomes thick and sour

WHEY Defined for Kids

whey

noun \ ˈhwā , ˈwā \

Definition of whey for Students

:the watery part that separates from the curd after milk sours and thickens

Medical Dictionary

whey

noun \ ˈhwā , ˈwā \

medical Definition of whey

:the serum or watery part of milk that is separated from the coagulable part or curd especially in the process of making cheese and that is rich in lactose, minerals, and vitamins and contains lactalbumin and traces of fat