yen

1
[ yen ]
See synonyms for: yenyennedyenningyens on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural yen.
  1. an aluminum coin and monetary unit of Japan, equal to 100 sen or 1000 rin. Symbol: ¥; Abbreviation: Y

  2. a former silver coin of Japan.

Origin of yen

1
1870–75; <Japanese (y)en<Chinese yuányuan

Words Nearby yen

Other definitions for yen (2 of 2)

yen2
[ yen ]

noun
  1. a desire or craving: I had a yen for apple pie.

verb (used without object),yenned, yen·ning.
  1. to have a craving; yearn.

Origin of yen

2
1905–10, Americanism; probably <dialectal Chinese (OAGuangdong) yáhn, akin to Chinese yǐn craving, addiction

Other words for yen

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use yen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for yen (1 of 2)

yen1

/ (jɛn) /


nounplural yen
  1. the standard monetary unit of Japan, (notionally) divided into 100 sen

Origin of yen

1
C19: from Japanese en, from Chinese yüan circular object, dollar

British Dictionary definitions for yen (2 of 2)

yen2

/ (jɛn) informal /


noun
  1. a passionate, ardent, or intense longing or desire

verbyens, yenning or yenned
  1. (intr) to yearn

Origin of yen

2
perhaps from Chinese (Cantonese) yăn a craving, addiction

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with yen

yen

see have a yen for.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.