yoke

[ yohk ]

/ yoʊk /

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See synonyms for: yoke / yoked on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural yokes for 1, 3-20, yoke for 2.

a device for joining together a pair of draft animals, especially oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal.Compare harness (def. 1).

a pair of draft animals fastened together by a yoke: five yoke of oxen.

something resembling a yoke or a bow of a yoke in form or use.

a frame fitting the neck and shoulders of a person, for carrying a pair of buckets or the like, one at each end.

an agency of oppression, subjection, servitude, etc.

an emblem or symbol of subjection, servitude, slavery, etc., as an archway under which prisoners of war were compelled to pass by the ancient Romans and others.

something that couples or binds together; a bond or tie.

Machinery. a viselike piece gripping two parts firmly together.

Also called fork . a forklike termination for a rod or shaft, inside which another part is secured.

a fitting for the neck of a draft animal for suspending the tongue of a cart, carriage, etc., from a harness.

a crosshead attached to the upper piston of an opposed-piston engine with rods to transmit power to the crankshaft.

(in an airplane) a double handle, somewhat like a steering wheel in form, by which the elevators are controlled.

Nautical. a crossbar on the head of the rudder of a small boat, having lines or chains attached to the ends so as to permit the steering of the boat from forward.

spreader beam.

a shaped piece in a garment, fitted about or below the neck and shoulders or about the hips, from which the rest of the garment hangs.

a horizontal piece forming the top of a window frame.

a Y-shaped piece connecting branch pipes with a main soil pipe.

Television. an electromagnetic assembly placed around the neck of a cathode-ray tube to produce and control the scanning motion of electron beams inside the tube.

British Dialect. (especially in Kent)

the time during which a plowman and team work without stopping; a period of plowing.
a measure or area of land equal to over 50 but less than 60 acres.

a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter Y.

verb (used with object), yoked, yok·ing.

to put a yoke on; join or couple by means of a yoke.

to attach (a draft animal) to a plow or vehicle: to yoke oxen.

to harness a draft animal to (a plow or vehicle): to yoke a wagon.

to join, couple, link, or unite.

Obsolete. to bring into subjection or servitude.

verb (used without object), yoked, yok·ing.

to be or become joined, linked, or united.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of yoke

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English yok(e), from Old English geoc; cognate with Dutch juk, German Joch, Old Norse ok, Latin jugum, Greek zygón, Hittite yugan, Sanskrit yuga; (verb) Middle English yoken, Old English geocian, derivative of the noun

synonym study for yoke

2. See pair.

OTHER WORDS FROM yoke

yokeless, adjectivewell-yoked, adjective

Words nearby yoke

yohimbine, yo-ho, yo-ho-ho, yoicks, yok, yoke, yoked, yokefellow, yoke front, yokel, yoker

Other definitions for yoke (2 of 2)

yoke²

[ yohk ]

/ yoʊk /

noun

yolk.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use yoke in a sentence

Mortensen becomes Rick Stanton, one of the world’s greatest cave divers, a man who feels the hefty yoke of moral obligation and the burden of responsibility to save thirteen souls stranded in a cave chamber miles under a mountain.
How Viggo Mortensen Transformed into the Cave Diver Who Rescued a Thai Soccer Team|lwhelan|August 4, 2022|Outside Online
The microphone itself is permanently suspended on a metal yoke mount that feels sturdy yet easy to adjust, and the yoke is fastened to a plastic horseshoe-shaped desk stand with a soft slip-resistant base.
Neat Microphones Bumblebee II review: Sonic depth on a budget|Julian Vittorio|January 29, 2022|Popular-Science
This podcasting mic from Shure is designed with a broadcast-friendly yoke mount and offers a suite of onboard DSP including ambient noise cancellation to deliver crisp and clear voice quality.
The best USB microphones are the perfect streamlined setup for content creators|Jay Cabrera|October 15, 2021|Popular-Science
Enslaved Texans found their yoke weighing more heavily under Texan rule than it had under that of Mexico, which nominally forbade slavery.
What people today — including Phil Collins — get wrong about the Alamo|H.W. Brands|June 25, 2021|Washington Post

The forces for and against women’s registration yoke closely to the positions for and against the Equal Rights Amendment.
Men-only Selective Service registration may end soon, but the fight will remain|Heather Stur|April 15, 2021|Washington Post
Did a group of righteous warriors throw off the yoke of imperial oppression?
Don't Let the Maccabees Win|Matt Lerner|December 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When the state acts wrongly, the yoke of that sin falls upon all who do not protest.
Israeli High Court Judges Let the Oppressed Go Free at Yom Kippur|Joshua Bloom|September 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And, indeed, the Framers were armed revolutionaries who understood that guns were useful for throwing off the yoke of tyranny.
Justice Scalia Goes Gun Crazy|Adam Winkler|August 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The U.S. is actually holding up its end of the bargain quite well, and assuming the yoke of economic leadership.
Hey America, Where Are You? U.S. Has Slim Presence at Davos|Daniel Gross|January 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Obama, finally freed from the yoke of reelection, could live out the true meaning of his promise.
What Progressives Want From Obama’s Second Term|Anthony Woods|November 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Put your neck under her yoke, and let your life receive instruction: she is near at hand to find.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
And submit your neck to the yoke, and let your soul receive discipline: for she is near at hand to be found.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Leo was angry, and said nothing till the dawn broke, and the cultivator came to yoke the Bull to his work.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
Of old time thou hast broken my yoke, thou hast burst my bands, and thou saidst: I will not serve.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various

British Dictionary definitions for yoke

yoke

/ (jəʊk) /

noun plural yokes or yoke

a wooden frame, usually consisting of a bar with an oxbow or similar collar-like piece at either end, for attaching to the necks of a pair of draught animals, esp oxen, so that they can be worked as a team

something resembling a yoke in form or function, such as a frame fitting over a person's shoulders for carrying buckets suspended at either end

a fitted part of a garment, esp around the neck, shoulders, and chest or around the hips, to which a gathered, pleated, flared, or unfitted part is attached

an immense oppressive force or burdenunder the yoke of a tyrant

a pair of oxen or other draught animals joined together by a yoke

a part, esp one of relatively thick cross section, that secures two or more components so that they move together

a crosshead that transmits the drive of an opposed piston engine from the upper of a pair of linked pistons to the crankshaft through a connecting rod

a steel framework around the formwork during the casting of concrete

nautical a crossbar fixed athwartships to the head of a rudderpost in a small boat, to which are attached ropes or cables for steering

a Y-shaped cable, rope, or chain, used for holding, towing, etc

(in the ancient world) a symbolic reconstruction of a yoke, consisting of two upright spears with a third lashed across them, under which conquered enemies were compelled to march, esp in Rome

a mark, token, or symbol of slavery, subjection, or suffering

rare a link, tie, or bondthe yoke of love

British dialect a period of steady work, esp the time during which a ploughman and his team work at a stretch

Irish any device, unusual object, or gadgetwhere's the yoke for opening tins?

verb

(tr) to secure or harness (a draught animal) to (a plough, vehicle, etc) by means of a yoke

to join or be joined by means of a yoke; couple, unite, or link

(tr) obsolete to oppress, burden, or enslave

Derived forms of yoke

yokeless, adjective

Word Origin for yoke

Old English geoc; related to Old High German ioh, Old Norse ok, Gothic juk, Latin iugum, Sanskrit yugam

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

yoke

Origin of yoke

synonym study for yoke

OTHER WORDS FROM yoke

Words nearby yoke

Other definitions for yoke (2 of 2)

Words related to yoke

How to use yoke in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for yoke

Derived forms of yoke

Word Origin for yoke