soybean meaning

soybean as a noun

1. a source of oil; used for forage and soil improvement and as food

   Synonyms: soy, soya bean

   Type of: 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

   Synonyms: soy, soya, soya bean, soybean plant, soja, soja bean, Glycine max

   Type of: legume

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)

   Synonyms: soy, soya, soya bean

   Type of: bean

   Kinds: field soybean

How to pronounce soybean

soybean is pronounced /ˈsɔɪbin/ in American English. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.