Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

yean

play
verb \ˈyēn, ˈēn\

Definition of yean

  1. intransitive verb

  2. :  to bring forth young —used of a sheep or goat

Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd

alt-597a99e699d07
July 2017 Words of the Day Quiz
alt-597a00ef4b9d7
'Motif' vs 'Leitmotif'
image1358596246
Words About Word Play
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Origin and Etymology of yean

Middle English yenen, from Old English *geēanian, from Old English ge-, perfective prefix + ēanian to yean; akin to Latin agnus lamb, Greek amnos

Learn More about yean

  1. See words that rhyme with yean

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up yean? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

inhere

play

to be a fixed element or attribute

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. implode How does implode differ from explode?

  2. transgender Trump reverses military policy allowing transgender people to serve

  3. beleaguer 'Being subjected to constant or repeated trouble or harassment'

  4. scaramouch A new White House communications director

  5. non sequitur “It does not follow”

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

alt-597a00ef4b9d7
'Motif' vs 'Leitmotif'

A pattern emerges.

alt-5978b44edfb13
Our (Almost) Final Word on 'Penultimate'

The ultimate guide to using penultimate.

alt-5978cb55e8ba5
The Grammatical History of 'Awaken'/'Awoken'/'Awakened'

Or you can just go back to bed.

alt-59775cb5d7779
Words We're Watching: 'Aquafaba'

Don't dump out the bean water just yet...

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

alt-597a99e699d07
July 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

Test your knowledge.

Take the quiz
emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz

Think you’re an emoji 👓 expert? Let’s see 🤔

Take the quiz
Spell It
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz
Bee Cubed
Bee Cubed

Listen to the words and spell through all three levels.

Play the game