yak

¹ American  

[yak] / yæk /

noun

1. a large, stocky, shaggy-haired wild ox, Bos grunniens, of the Tibetan highlands, having long, curved horns: endangered.

2. a domesticated variety of this animal.

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yak ² American  

[yak] / yæk /

Also yack,

verb (used without object)

yakked, yakking

1. to talk, especially uninterruptedly and idly; gab; chatter.

   They've been yakking on the phone for over an hour.

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noun

1. incessant idle or gossipy talk.

yak ³ American  

[yak] / yæk /

noun

Slang.

yakked, yakking

1. yuk.

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yak ¹ British  

/ jæk /

noun

1. Also: yakety-yak.  noisy, continuous, and trivial talk or conversation

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verb

1. (intr) to chatter or talk in this way; jabber

yak ² British  

/ jæk /

noun

1. a wild and domesticated type of cattle, Bos grunniens, of Tibet, having long horns and long shaggy hair

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Other Word Forms

• yakker noun

Etymology

Origin of yak¹

First recorded in 1785–95; from Tibetan gyag

Origin of yak²

An Americanism dating to 1820–25 for yakety-yak ( def. ) (noun)

Example Sentences

As for the cheese, it’s traditionally made with Bhutanese yak cheese for a tangy flavor, and increasingly cow’s milk cheese.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2026

This is the roof of the world where traffic gives way to yak herders on horseback whistling to reluctant, grunting cattle, as eagles circle above.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2025

One of them approaches a vendor selling barbecued strips of yak meat.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2025

But you can also find cheese made with milk from other animals like sheep, goats and even water buffalo and yak.

From Salon • Jul. 24, 2024

Two more moves and he was on his back, which is not at all comfortable for a yak.

From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness