soy

especially British, soy·a

[soi]

noun

1. the soybean plant or its seeds.

   Soy is a major crop in Brazil.

2. a product or products made from soybeans.

   I'm vegetarian, so my main source of protein is soy.

3. soy sauce.

   Add about 2 tablespoons soy to the noodles.

4. soymilk.

   We use soy in our coffee instead of milk.

adjective

1. made or derived from soybeans or soymilk.

   soy flour.

Word History and Origins

Origin of soy¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; perhaps via Dutch or New Latin soya, soja, from Japanese shōyu, earlier siau-yu, from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese jìngyóu “soybean oil”

Example Sentences

Anise, coriander and other flavorings lent a subtle complexity to the “special soy sauce” set out on the tables.

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This week's victims ate meals that included soy sauce chicken, fried tofu, vegetables and fruit – but past poisoning incidents have been linked to expired sauce and, in one case, the serving of fried shark.

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Although soy sauce containers are made of a recyclable plastic - polyethylene - their small size means they struggle to be processed by machines properly.

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“This can come from milk, yogurt, or cheese. It can also come from lactose-free milk and fortified soy milk or yogurt.”

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The containers were found to be mistakenly filled with Friendly’s Cookies and Cream ice cream, which means there is an undisclosed wheat and soy allergen.

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