(n)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.soybean, soja, soybean plant, Glycine max, soya, soja bean, soya bean
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
n. (Bot.) An Asiatic leguminous herb (Glycine max, formerly Glycine Soja) the seeds of which (called soy beans) are used in preparing the sauce called soy. Called also soya. [ 1913 Webster ]