variants
or less commonly yoke
1
a
: the yellow spheroidal mass of stored food that forms the inner portion of the egg of a bird or reptile and is surrounded by the white see egg illustration
b
archaic
: the whole contents of an animal ovum consisting of a protoplasmic formative portion and an inert nutritive portion
c
: material stored in an animal ovum that supplies food to the developing embryo and consists chiefly of proteins, lecithin, and cholesterol
2
[akin to Middle Dutch ieke yolk (of wool), Old English ēowu ewe]
: oily material in unprocessed sheep wool consisting of wool fat, suint, and debris
Examples of yolk in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Try making a custard tart that calls for eight egg yolks, then testing it three more times.
—
Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
The runny yolk makes this classic dish even better.
—Melissa Clark, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Top foods: Salmon, sardines, egg yolks, high-quality dairy.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
Reduce mixer speed to low; add eggs and egg yolk, 1 at a time, beating just until combined after each addition, about 45 seconds total.
—Ana Calderone, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yolk
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Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
The runny yolk makes this classic dish even better.
—Melissa Clark, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Top foods: Salmon, sardines, egg yolks, high-quality dairy.
—Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
Reduce mixer speed to low; add eggs and egg yolk, 1 at a time, beating just until combined after each addition, about 45 seconds total.
—Ana Calderone, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yolk
Cite this Entry
“Yolk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yolk. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
yolk
noun
ˈyōk 
ˈyelk,
also ˈyōlk
1
: the yellow inner mass of stored food in the egg of a bird or reptile
2
: the material stored in an animal ovum that supplies food material to the developing embryo
Medical Definition
yolk
noun
: material stored in an ovum that supplies food to the developing embryo and consists chiefly of proteins, lecithin, and cholesterol
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