yolk

noun

ˈyōk 

(in cultivated speech especially Southern US) ˈyelk,

 also  ˈyōlk,

ˈyȯlk,

ˈyälk,

ˈyəlk

variants or less commonly yoke

ˈyōk 

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

yolked

ˈyōkt 

ˈyelkt

 (in cultivated speech, especially Southern US) 

 also  ˈyōlkt

ˈyȯlkt

ˈyälkt

ˈyəlkt

adjective

yolky

ˈyō-kē 

(in cultivated speech, especially Southern US) ˈyel-

 also  ˈyōl-

ˈyȯl-

ˈyäl-

ˈyəl-

adjective

Examples of yolk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And are over-easy or sunny side up eggs with runny yolk considered properly cooked? —USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024

Then again, Chet has been known to serve a sunny-side-up egg with a broken yolk, too. —Wes Davis, The Verge, 2 Apr. 2024

Let sit for 10-12 minutes for firm yolks or 6-8 minutes for a softer yolk. —Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024

Unlike most recipes, this recipe separates the yolks and whites before mashing. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 21 Mar. 2024

Egg pastries made of Nordic-style milk bread are sweet and savory, with bites of salty, sharp aged white cheddar that sits under a bright orange yolk basted with garlic-herb butter. —Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024

Past peoples ground and mixed cinnabar with an oil or egg yolk to make a paint. —Bridget Alex, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024

Use your fingertips or a small spatula to push the egg yolks through a wire-mesh sieve over the top, or simply crumble them. —Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024

The green tinge results from a chemical reaction between the sulfur in the egg white and the hydrogen in the yolk. —USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English yolke, from Old English geoloca, from geolu yellow — more at yellow

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing yolk

• yolk sac
• yolk stalk

Kids 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

ˈyōk 

: material stored in an ovum that supplies food to the developing embryo and consists chiefly of proteins, lecithin, and cholesterol