soy-bean

A farmer harvests soy-beans in a sunny field.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A leguminous plant: "soy-bean" refers to the plant Glycine max, cultivated for its edible seeds, which are high in protein and oil.
   • The seed of this plant: "soy-bean" also denotes the seed itself, used as a food source for humans and livestock, and as a base for products like tofu, soy milk, and oil.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Farmers harvest soy-beans in the autumn for processing into animal feed. (The seeds of the plant are collected.)
  • Soy-bean oil is commonly used in cooking and food manufacturing. (Oil extracted from the seeds.)

Advanced Usage

• "soy-bean curd": a food product made from soy-beans, commonly known as tofu.

  • She prepared a stir-fry with soy-bean curd and vegetables. (Tofu is a key ingredient.)

• "soy-bean paste": a fermented condiment made from soy-beans, such as miso or doenjang.

  • The soup was flavoured with a spoonful of soy-bean paste. (A savoury fermented paste.)

Variants and Related Words

• Soy (n): a shortened form of "soy-bean", often used interchangeably.

  • He drinks soy milk every morning. (Milk made from soy-beans.)

• Soya (n): an alternative spelling and term for "soy-bean", common in British English.

  • Soya beans are a staple in many vegetarian diets. (Same as soy-beans.)

Synonyms

• Soya bean: a synonym for "soy-bean", especially in British English.
• Edamame: young, green soy-beans, often steamed and eaten as a snack.

Phrasal Verbs

• None directly associated: "soy-bean" is a noun and does not form phrasal verbs.

Related Idioms

• None directly associated: "soy-bean" is a specific agricultural term and lacks common idiomatic expressions.