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

Be sure to store eggs with the pointed ends down, maintaining freshness by keeping the yolks centered and the air cells stable. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2024

White sticks to the savory courses in the clip and is seen rolling out pasta sheets and filling them with cheese and egg yolks before stamping out ravioli. —Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 2 July 2024

To prevent that, store the eggs pointier-end down to keep the yolks centered.) Don’t skip the ice bath. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 26 Apr. 2024

In the egg white, 579 are present; in the egg yolk, 584 proteins are present. —Kathi Valeii Published, Verywell Health, 3 July 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