I. ˈhwā also ˈwā noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwæg; akin to Middle Dutch wey whey, hoy whey, Middle Low German hoie, and perhaps to Latin caseus cheese — more at cheese
: the serum or watery part of milk containing sugar, minerals, and lactalbumin that is separated from the thicker or more coagulable part or curd especially in the process of making cheese
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to cause whey to separate from (milk or buttermilk)
intransitive verb
: to separate in the form of whey
III. adjective
1. : of or relating to whey
whey powder
whey butter
2. : resembling whey (as in consistency or color) : watery , pale
a sprig … with a whey face and a satchel — Sir Walter Scott