soybean

soybean
    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}]
    

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]