whey

[ wey, hwey ]

noun

1. a milk serum, separating as liquid from the curd after coagulation, as in cheesemaking.

whey

/ weɪ /

noun

1. the watery liquid that separates from the curd when the milk is clotted, as in making cheese

Derived Forms

• ˈwheyey, adjective

Other Words From

• whey·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of whey¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English whei(e), whai(e), wei, Old English hwæg, hwæig, hwǣg, hweg; cognate with Dutch, Low German wei

Word History and Origins

Origin of whey¹

Old English hwǣg; related to Middle Low German wei, heie, Dutch hui

Example Sentences

But whey remains one of the largest sources of food loss and waste in Australia's large dairy sector.

From Salon

Rennet, an enzyme naturally present in the stomachs of ruminants, would prompt the milk to coagulate, separating into curds and whey, thus laying the groundwork for modern cheese production.

From Salon

Unlike with yogurt, another fermented dairy product, cheesemakers remove whey – which is water – to make cheese.

From Salon

Vulto employees reportedly didn’t wash their lower or upper arms before submerging them in whey to stir and break up fresh cheese curds.

From Salon

But for protein-obsessed strength athletes, she said there's no reason they can't swap out whey, yogurt, and steak and build muscle on their plant-based counterparts.

From Salon