Dictionary.com
definitions

yen

1
[ yen ]
/ yɛn /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR yen ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural yen.

an aluminum coin and monetary unit of Japan, equal to 100 sen or 1000 rin. Symbol: ¥; Abbreviation: Y
a former silver coin of Japan.

RELATED WORDS

desire, urge, itch, hankering, longing, hunger, thirst, lust, yearning, passion, craving

Nearby words

  1. yemen,
  2. yemen, southern,
  3. yemeni,
  4. yemenite,
  5. yemmer,
  6. yen hsi-shan,
  7. yenakiyevo,
  8. yenan,
  9. yenisei,
  10. yenisei ostyak

Origin of yen

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

yen

2
[ yen ]
/ yɛn /
Informal.

noun

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

verb (used without object), yenned, yen·ning.

to have a craving; yearn.

Origin of yen

2
1905–10, Americanism; probably < dialectal Chinese (OAGuangdong) yáhn, akin to Chinese yǐn craving, addiction
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for yen

British Dictionary definitions for yen

yen

1
/ (jɛn) /

noun plural yen

the standard monetary unit of Japan, (notionally) divided into 100 sen

Word Origin for yen

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

noun

a passionate, ardent, or intense longing or desire

verb yens, yenning or yenned

(intr) to yearn

Word Origin for yen

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
Word Origin and History for yen
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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.