variants
or less commonly yoke
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
Examples of yolk in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
An egg allergy happens when the immune system reacts to proteins in egg whites and/or yolks.
—
Johna Burdeos, Health, 21 Jan. 2025
That’s because most ice cream recipes are actually quite simple in terms of technique and ingredients, typically consisting of some combination of milk, cream, sugar, and sometimes eggs or egg yolks.
—Alaina Chou, Bon Appétit, 10 Jan. 2025
Once the egg white has separated, drop the egg yolk into a separate bowl.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2024
Egg whites: Using egg whites—rather than whole eggs or yolks—yields a thick cookie that’s more puffy and less dense.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for yolk 
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Johna Burdeos, Health, 21 Jan. 2025
That’s because most ice cream recipes are actually quite simple in terms of technique and ingredients, typically consisting of some combination of milk, cream, sugar, and sometimes eggs or egg yolks.
—Alaina Chou, Bon Appétit, 10 Jan. 2025
Once the egg white has separated, drop the egg yolk into a separate bowl.
—Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2024
Egg whites: Using egg whites—rather than whole eggs or yolks—yields a thick cookie that’s more puffy and less dense.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for yolk
Dictionary Entries Near yolk
Cite this Entry
“Yolk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yolk. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
: material stored in an ovum that supplies food to the developing embryo and consists chiefly of proteins, lecithin, and cholesterol
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