yak

1 of 4

noun (1)

plural yaks also yak
: a large long-haired wild or domesticated ox (Bos grunniens synonym B. mutus) of Tibet and adjacent elevated parts of central Asia

Illustration of yak

Illustration of yak
  • 1yak

less common variant of yuk entry 1

1
slang : laugh
did it just for yuks
2
slang : joke, gag

yak

3 of 4

verb

variants or less commonly yack
yakked also yacked; yakking also yacking

intransitive verb

: to talk persistently : chatter

yak

4 of 4

noun (3)

variants or less commonly yack
: persistent or voluble talk

Examples of yak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Just to be clear, this battery would weigh as much as a female yak. Rhett Allain, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024 While the majority of yaks are domesticated, wild yaks still exist in small groups. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024 Made from the milk of yaks, these chews are high in protein and low in fat. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2023 Society official Newspaper reports in the years after catalogued the expanding animal collection at Holly’s property: camels, yaks, ostrich, zebras and, by 1978, a lion that briefly escaped Brandywine during a fire and was later seen in an undersized cage and being fed a pony head. Maura Judkis, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2023 This natural ingredient is sourced from local farmers who have been rearing yaks for centuries. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023 Traffic jams of ornery yaks and deliriously tired hikers force us to adopt a stop-start pace. Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2023 The combination of yak milk and yogurt creates a rich source of protein, calcium, and other vital minerals that support your dog's muscle development and bone health. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023 The process of making the yak chews results in a product that is low in fat and calories. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 9 July 2023
Verb
At 77, the Republican front-runner may even be slipping in the head, yakking about becoming dictator for a day, taking revenge on opponents and mimicking Hitler rhetoric. George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yak.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Tibetan (Lhasa dialect) yaʔ (spelled gyag)

Verb

probably imitative

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1795, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1949, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yak was in 1795

Dictionary Entries Near yak

Cite this Entry

“Yak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yak. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

yak

noun
ˈyak
plural yaks also yak
: a large long-haired wild or domesticated ox of Tibet and nearby elevated parts of central Asia

More from Merriam-Webster on yak

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