yoke

SayYOHKUS/joʊk/UK/jəʊk/

Pluralyokes

Verbyokes, yoking, yoked

28 meanings of yoke

Practice

1
ox harnessnouncountable
A bar or frame put across the necks of two animals, like oxen, so they can pull something together.
The farmer put the yoke on the two oxen before plowing the field.
The heavy yoke rubbed the ox's neck until it was sore.
UsageYoke often sounds like egg yolk, but the words have different spellings.
Note
2
harsh rulenounfigurativelycountable
Something that controls people and makes their life hard.
The people finally threw off the yoke of the cruel king.
Every month she feels the yoke of her student loans.
UsageSay under the yoke of or throw off the yoke.
Similarburden, oppression, bondage, tyranny
Note
3
clothing partnouncountable
The part of a shirt, dress or skirt that fits around the shoulders or hips, with the rest hanging from it.
Grandma's dress has a yoke of white lace at the neck.
The shirt has a double yoke across the shoulders.
Note
4
verbfigurativelytransitive
To join people or things closely together, often when they do not want it.
The new rules yoke the two towns together, whether they like it or not.
The school project yoked me to a partner I could not stand.
UsageSay yoke two things together.
Similarjoin, link, bind, couple, tie
Oppositeseparate, divide, sever
Note
5
nouncountable
A bar or frame shaped like an ox yoke that joins or holds up parts of something.
Workers lowered the old bell and its wooden yoke from the steeple.
A steel yoke joins the two rods so they move together.
6
plane controlnouncountable
The handle a pilot holds and turns to fly a plane, or a copy of it for flying games.
The pilot pulled back on the yoke, and the plane began to climb.
She held the yoke tightly as the plane shook in the storm.
UsagePilots pull back on the yoke to climb.
Note
7
team of oxennounhistoricalcountable
Two animals, usually oxen, that work together pulling a load. In the past it could mean any pair.
A yoke of oxen pulled the heavy cart up the hill.
One yoke of cattle became so foot sore that they were unserviceable, and we were obliged to drive them behind the wagon.
1861, E. J. Guerin, Mountain CharleyHere, yoke means a pair of animals, like oxen, working together.
UsageSay two yoke of oxen.
Similarpair, team, span
Note
8
harness animalsverbtransitive
To put a yoke on animals so they can pull something.
Every morning he yoked the oxen and went out to plow.
Can you help me yoke the two horses to the wagon?
UsageSay yoke the horses to the wagon.
Similarharness, hitch
Note
9
nounfigurativelycountable
A close tie between people, like marriage or friendship, or a job they share.
My grandparents shared the yoke of marriage for fifty years.
The two sisters took up the yoke of caring for their father together.
Similarbond
Note

Less common meanings

10
subdueverbfigurativelytransitive
To control people and keep them from being free.
The king yoked the people with harsh laws.
Debts like these can yoke a family to the same factory for years.
UsageSay debts yoke a family to a job.
Similarshackle, oppress, subjugate, enslave, chain
Oppositefree, liberate
Note
11
carrying polenouncountable
A pole you carry across your shoulders with a bucket hanging from each end.
The girl carried water from the well on a wooden yoke.
His shoulders hurt from carrying the yoke and its two buckets of milk all morning.
Note
12
arch of spearsnounhistoricalcountable
In ancient Rome, a frame of spears that beaten soldiers had to walk under to show they had lost.
The beaten soldiers had to pass under the yoke one by one.
The general made the enemy army pass under the yoke while everyone watched.
Note
13
prisoner collarnounhistoricalcountable
A collar put around the neck of a prisoner so they cannot move freely.
The guard locked a wooden yoke around the prisoner's neck.
The captives were led through the streets with yokes on their necks.
Similarcollar
Note
14
animal collarnounhistoricalcountable
A frame put around an animal's neck so it cannot push through a fence.
The goat wore a yoke so it could not get through the fence.
Farmers put yokes on their pigs to keep them out of the corn.
Note
15
gadgetnouncolloquialIrelandcountable
Any object, or a small useful tool or machine.
What's this yoke on the back of the door for?
Mam keeps all her sewing yokes in a biscuit tin.
Similarthing, gadget, thingy, contraption
Note
16
guynouncolloquialIrelandcountable
A man or a guy.
A big yoke in a red jacket was asking for you.
That yoke never stops talking.
Similarfella, bloke, guy, chap
17
vehiclenoundialectalIrelandScotlandcountable
A cart pulled by a horse, or any car or other vehicle.
Whose yoke is parked in front of the gate?
We all climbed into the yoke, and the horse pulled us up the hill.
Similarcar
Note
18
drug pillnounslangIrelandcountable
A pill of a drug that changes how your mind works.
He swallowed a yoke at the club and danced till morning.
The guards caught him selling yokes outside the club.
Similarpill, tab
Note
19
arm aroundverbtransitive
To put your arms, or something like a necklace of flowers, around someone's neck or waist.
He yoked his arm around his little brother's neck and laughed.
The players yoke their arms around each other before the game.
Similarwrap, drape
Note
20
noun
Big, strong muscles on the neck and shoulders.
21
noun
A metal part joining a magnet's ends, or a motor part with no wire wound around it.
22
noun
A set of wire coils around the neck of an old TV picture tube that steers the beam of electrons.
23
noun
A Y-shaped stand that holds a glassblower's pipe while the glass is heated again in the furnace.
24
nounarchaicKent
An old Kent land measure of about 50 to 60 acres, or a small estate.
25
noundialectalEnglandKentScotland
About half a day's work with oxen or horses, or later any spell of work.
26
verb
To put a collar around a prisoner's neck so they cannot move freely.
27
verb
To put a frame on an animal's neck so it cannot get through a fence.
28
verbarchaicScotland
To marry or be married to someone, often felt to be a burden.
In short, I have the honour to be yoked to a young lady, who is, in plain English, for her standing, a very eminent scold.
1712, [Richard Steele], “TUESDAY, August 12, 1712”

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of yoke apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–3, 5–7, 9, 11–18

From the Old English word ġeoc, from a very old root meaning "to join".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Yoke derives from Old English ġeoc. en.wiktionary.org
Its ultimate root means “to join”. en.wikipedia.org

Meanings 4, 8, 10, 19

From the Old English verb ġeocian, made from the noun ġeoc ("yoke").

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

The verb yoke derives from the Old English verb ġeocian. en.wiktionary.org
Old English ġeocian was formed from the noun ġeoc, meaning “yoke”. en.wiktionary.org