yolk

noun \ ˈyōk , ˈyelk (in cultivated speech especially Southern US) also ˈyōlk , ˈyȯlk , ˈyälk , ˈyəlk \

variants: or less commonly yoke play \ˈyōk\

Definition of yolk

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

[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

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yolked

play \ˈyōkt, ˈyelkt, (in cultivated speech, especially Southern US) also ˈyōlkt, ˈyȯlkt, ˈyälkt, ˈyəlkt\ adjective

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yolky

play \ˈyō-kē, ˈyel-(in cultivated speech, especially Southern US) also ˈyōl-, ˈyȯl-, ˈyäl-, ˈyəl-\ adjective

See yolk defined for English-language learners

See yolk defined for kids

Recent Examples of yolk from the Web

The group reported finding the chemical in samples of blood and egg yolk from the Palo Verde crocs, confirming that they had been exposed to it.

— mitch leslie, Science | AAAS, "Something is changing the sex of Costa Rican crocodiles," 30 Aug. 2017
Eat foods like spinach, egg yolk and red bell pepper.

— by samantha j. gross, miamiherald, "Here’s how you can protect your eyes from damage during the total eclipse," 13 Aug. 2017
Eggs: Crack open a few for breakfast regularly, yolk and all.

— helen zook, Cosmopolitan, "12 Easy Food Fixes for Every Health Issue," 13 Aug. 2017
Some recipes call for egg yolks, but those are optional.

— jasper j. mirabile jr., kansascity, "Chilled tonnato sauce with heirloom tomatoes makes for a perfect summertime snack," 28 July 2017
The runny yolk from a soft-fried egg enhances the sauce.

— eric velasco, AL.com, "Roots & Revelry charms with its modern take on fine dining," 25 July 2017
Once mostly incorporated, add half of the yolks and continue the process.

— caron golden, sandiegouniontribune.com, "How to be a pasta pro," 17 July 2017
Here, a poached egg yolk nested among fresh fettuccine with morels, to be tossed by diners at the table.

— providence cicero, The Seattle Times, "Contadino joins Brian Clevenger’s Italian empire," 6 July 2017
While mixture is heating, in a large bowl, whisk together yolks and sugar until smooth.

— nancy miller, The Courier-Journal, "Cuvee Wine Table 'a perfect fit' for chef de cuisine," 4 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'yolk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of yolk

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

YOLK Defined for English Language Learners

yolk

noun

Definition of yolk for English Language Learners

: the yellow part in the center of an egg

YOLK Defined for Kids

yolk

noun \ ˈyōk \

Definition of yolk for Students

:the yellow inner part of the egg of a bird or reptile containing stored food material for the developing young

History for yolk

The word yolk goes back to Old English geoloca (a spelling that seems less strange when you know that ge- in Old English could stand for the sound /y/). Geoloca, in turn, is a derivative of geolu, the ancestor of our word yellow. This makes perfect sense given the color of a yolk, but changes in pronunciation over the course of centuries no longer make the relationship of the words obvious.