yoke Definition
- 1a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plough or cart that they are to pull
- 2a device for joining together a pair of draft animals, especially oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal
Using yoke: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "yoke" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The farmer put a yoke on the oxen before plowing the field.
Example
The oxen were joined by a yoke.
Example
The yoke broke and the oxen ran free.
Example
The yoke was too heavy for the horse.
yoke Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with yoke
Example
The people threw off the yoke of the oppressive regime.
Example
As the eldest son, he had to bear the yoke of his family's expectations.
to escape from or break free of a situation or condition that has been limiting or oppressive
Example
She finally broke the yoke of her addiction and started a new life.
Origins of yoke
from Old English 'geoc', related to Dutch 'juk' and German 'Joch'
Summary: yoke in Brief
A 'yoke' [jəʊk] is a wooden crosspiece that joins two draft animals, such as oxen, to a plough or cart. It can also refer to the device itself. The phrase 'throw off the yoke' means to rebel against a controlling power, while 'bear the yoke' means to accept a burden or responsibility. 'Break the yoke' means to escape from a limiting or oppressive situation.
