soya bean

UK: /ˈsɔɪə ˌbiːn/ US: (soi′ə)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

soy′a bean′  (soi′ə), n. 

1. Plant Biology soybean.

• Dutch soja Japanese; see soy
• soya

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

soya bean, soybean / ˈsɔɪˌbiːn/ noun

1. an Asian bean plant, Glycine max (or G. soja), cultivated for its nutritious seeds, for forage, and to improve the soil
2. the seed of this plant, used as food, forage, and as the source of an oil

Etymology: 17th Century soya, via Dutch soya from Japanese shōyu, from Chinese chiang yu, from chiang paste + yu sauce