yoke definition - Dictionary

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yoke

yoke [ yōk ]

noun (plural yokes)

Definition:

1. animal harness: a wooden frame for harnessing two draft animals to whatever they had to pull

2. joined animals: two animals joined by a yoke

a yoke of oxen

3. frame for carrying loads: a frame designed to fit across somebody's shoulders with balanced loads suspended at each end

4. dress fitted part of garment: the fitted part of a garment, usually around the shoulders or waist, from which an unfitted part is suspended

5. restrictive burden: something that is felt to be oppressive and restrictive

throw off the tyrant's yoke

6. bond keeping people close: a bond or tie that keeps people together

the yoke of marriage

7. crossed spears: an archway made of crossed spears under which defeated enemies of the ancient Romans were forced to march

8. nautical rudder crossbar: a crossbar attached to the top of a rudder and connected to the front of a boat by ropes or cables for steering

9. electronics cathode ray device: a device attached to the neck of a cathode ray tube to control the scanning motion of the electron beam

10. recording equipment for multitrack recording: equipment for recording or reproducing sounds or music on more than one track simultaneously, by joining together two or more magnetic recording heads

11. aviation aircraft part: the handle of the steering mechanism for an airplane's ailerons

transitive verb (past and past participle yoked, present participle yok·ing, 3rd person present singular yokes)

Definition:

1. fit animals with yoke: to put a yoke on two draft animals

2. connect animal to vehicle: to connect a draft animal to a plow or vehicle

3. link things together: to join or link two things forcibly or surprisingly

Ranchers were yoked together with farmers on the issue.

[ Old English geoc< Indo-European, "join"]

Spelling Note


	Do not confuse the spelling of yoke and yolk, which sound similar. Yokerefers to a frame for pulling or carrying a load, or something oppressive or restrictive: put the yoke on the oxen, the yoke of tyranny, yoked them to the plow. The yolk is the yellow portion of an egg.