soybean

n. leguminous annual herb native to southeast Asia (grown to improve soil, to provide forage for livestock and for its nutritious seeds); nutritious edible seed of the soybean plant

The soybean (U.S.) or soya bean (UK) (Glycine max) is a species of legume native to East Asia. It is an annual plant that may vary in growth, habit, and height. It may grow prostrate, not growing higher than 20 cm (7.8 inches), or even stiffly erect up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) in height. The pods, stems, and leaves are covered with fine brown or gray pubescence. The leaves are trifoliate (sometimes with 5 leaflets), and the leaflets are 6–15 cm (2–6 inches) long and 2–7 cm (1–3 inches) broad. The leaves fall before the seeds are mature. The small, inconspicuous, self-fertile flowers are borne in the axil of the leaf and are white, pink or purple. The  fruit is a hairy pod that grows in clusters of 3–5, with each pod 3–8 cm (1–3 inches) long and usually containing 2–4 (rarely more)  seeds 5–11 mm in diameter.
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Noun
1. a source of oil; used for forage and soil improvement and as food
(synonym) soy, soya bean
(hypernym) bean, bean plant
(part-holonym) soy, soya, soya bean, soybean plant, soja, soja bean, Glycine max
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
(synonym) soy, soya, soya bean, soybean plant, soja, soja bean, Glycine max
(hypernym) legume, leguminous plant
(member-holonym) Glycine, genus Glycine
(part-meronym) soy
3. most highly proteinaceous vegetable crop known
(synonym) soy
(hypernym) bean, edible bean
(hyponym) field soybean
(substance-holonym) soybean meal, soybean flour, soy flour
(part-holonym) soy, soya, soya bean, soybean plant, soja, soja bean, Glycine max
(substance-meronym) soybean oil, soyabean oil

Glycine max. A plant of Asian origin that produces beans used in many food products. Soy products contain isoflavones (estrogen-like substances) that are being studied for the prevention of cancer, hot flashes that occur with menopause, and osteoporosis (loss of bone density). Soy products in the diet may lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Also called soy and soya.

SOIA