yak

1 of 4

noun (1)

plural yaks also yak
: a large long-haired wild or domesticated ox (Bos grunniens synonym Poephagus grunniens) of Tibet and adjacent elevated parts of central Asia

Illustration of yak

Illustration of yak
  • 1yak

less common variant of yuk entry 1

1
slang : laugh
did it just for yuks
2
slang : joke, gag

yak

3 of 4

verb

variants or less commonly yack
yakked also yacked; yakking also yacking

intransitive verb

: to talk persistently : chatter

yak

4 of 4

noun (3)

variants or less commonly yack
: persistent or voluble talk

Examples of yak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
There were also yaks, deer, buffalo, camels, a kangaroo, ostriches, eight monkeys, six raccoons, two grizzly bears, black bears, brown bears, seals, lions, an old tiger, a blind hyena, a circus elephant, an alligator and 400 birds, including a talking crow. Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 More than 500 of them, in fact, from native whitetail deer to yaks, scimitar oryx, and water buffalo. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
Probabilities decrease the further to the right, but multiplying terms gives one a rough guess of who’s out there yakking it up. Clyde Wayne Crews Jr, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 Safety car after safety car wailed by, while young fans argued about their favorite drivers and old fans yakked about seasons gone by. Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for yak

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Tibetan (Lhasa dialect) yaʔ (spelled gyag)

Verb

probably imitative

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1795, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1949, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yak was in 1795

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Cite this Entry

“Yak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yak. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

yak

noun
ˈyak
plural yaks also yak
: a large long-haired wild or domesticated ox of Tibet and nearby elevated parts of central Asia

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