soybean

American  

[soi-been] / ˈsɔɪˌbin /

especially British, soya bean

noun

1. a bushy Old World plant, Glycine max, of the legume family, cultivated globally, with greatest productivity in the United States, where it is grown chiefly for forage and soil improvement.

2. the seed of this plant, used for food, as a livestock feed, and for a variety of other commercial uses.

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Etymology

Origin of soybean

First recorded in 1795–1805; soy + bean

Example Sentences

If costs stay high, some farmers may shift acres toward soybeans, which requires much less nitrogen fertilizers, or trim application rates.

From Barron's

Among other issues, Beijing last year agreed to purchase US soybeans after a halt in Chinese orders as a trade dispute deepened.

From Barron's

American farmers face 30% higher fertilizer costs, leading many to plan on planting more soybeans and cutting fertilizer use for corn.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jim Martin, an Illinois farmer who grows soybeans, corn and other crops, said fertilizer and input costs were "everybody's nightmare right now."

From Barron's

"It could not come at a worse time," said farmer Harry Ott, who grows cotton, corn and soybeans in South Carolina.

From BBC