yolk

noun

ˈyōk 

ˈyelk

(in cultivated speech, especially Southern US), 

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 

ˈyel-

(in cultivated speech, especially Southern US), 

also ˈyōl-, 

ˈyȯl-, 

ˈyäl-, 

ˈyəl-

adjective

Examples of yolk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That means no tasting cookie dough made with raw eggs, no licking brownie batter off the beaters, and no homemade Caesar dressing made with uncooked yolks. — Angela Haupt, Time, 23 July 2026

How to Use Eggs Safely Cook eggs until the yolks and whites are firm. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 23 July 2026

It’s known for being extra creamy (almost like a custard) thanks to its yolks-only recipe and gets its memorable name from Blue Willow china, a beloved plate pattern in the South. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 23 July 2026

Baik says to load up on leafy greens, egg yolks and yellow and orange bell peppers because these foods contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two key antioxidants that support vision. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 22 July 2026

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

Rhymes for yolk

• bloke
• boeck
• broke
• choke
• cloak
• cloke
• croak
• folk
• hoke
• joke
• moke
• oak

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