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

The state's soy bean farmers and cattle ranchers have felt the pinch from tariffs and trade disputes.

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Eels, called "unagi" in Japan, have been consumed there for millennia and are now typically grilled on skewers and dipped in a soy and rice wine sauce.

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The group supports the ban, which is known officially as the Amazon Soy Moratorium, because they argue it helps ensure UK soy supply chains remain free from deforestation.

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But for decades its vast ecosystem has been decaying, with areas chopped down to sell timber or clear space for cattle or crops like soy.

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The report from environment groups Size of Wales and WWF Cymru says the soy is high in phosphorous, and becomes a pollutant when animal manure spread on land runs off into rivers.

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