jəuk n. & v. --n. 1 a
wooden crosspiece fastened
over the necks of
two oxen etc.
and attached to the
plough or
wagon to be
drawn. 2 (pl.
same or yokes) a
pair (of oxen etc.). 3 an
object like a yoke in
form or
function, e.g. a wooden shoulder-piece
for carrying a pair of pails, the top
section of a
dress or
skirt etc.
from which the rest hangs. 4
sway,
dominion, or
servitude,
esp.
when oppressive. 5 a
bond or
union, esp.
that of
marriage. 6 Rom.Hist. an uplifted yoke, or an arch of
three spears symbolizing
it,
under which a defeated
army was made to
march. 7
archaic the
amount of
land that
one yoke of oxen
could plough in a
day. 8 a
crossbar on which a bell swings. 9 the crossbar of a
rudder to
whose ends ropes are fastened. 10 a bar of
soft iron between the poles of an
electromagnet. --v. 1 tr. put a yoke
on. 2 tr.
couple or
unite (a pair). 3 tr. (foll. by to) link (one thing) to (another). 4 intr. match or
work together. [OE geoc f. Gmc]
