The bean of the climbing herb Glycine soja or G. hispida (family Leguminosae); a bean rich in protein and containing little starch; it is the source of s. oil; s. flour is used in preparing a bread for diabetics, in feeding formulas for infants who are unable to tolerate cow's milk, and for adults allergic to cow's milk. SYN: soja, soya. [Hind. soya, fennel]
- s. oil obtained from soybeans by expression or solvent extraction; contains triglycerides of linoleic acid, oleic acid, linolenic acid, and saturated fatty acid s; used as a food and in the manufacture of margarine and other food products.
* * *
soy·bean 'sȯi-.bēn also soya bean n a hairy annual Asian legume (Glycine max) grown for its oil-rich proteinaceous seeds and for forage and soil improvement also its seed
* * *
soy·bean (soiґbēn) the bean of the leguminous plant, Glycine max. It contains little starch, is rich in protein, and also contains high levels of phytoestrogens.Medical dictionary. 2011.