| Y, y | 1 the twenty-fifth letter of the alphabet. 2 (algebra) the second unknown quantity. 3 (math) the second coordinate. |
| yacht (noun) | a ship, especially a sailing ship, used for pleasure or racing. n yachting. |
| yachtsman , yachtswoman (noun) | a person who sails a yacht. |
| yak (noun) | a type of ox with long silky hair, found in Tibet. |
| yam (noun) | a tropical plant with an edible root; a sweet potato. |
| yank (verb) | to tug, to move suddenly or with a jerk. |
| Yankee (noun) | a citizen of the North of the United States. |
| yap (verb) | (yapped , yapping ) to yelp, to bark shrilly (little dogs yapping). |
| yard (noun) | 1 in the imperial system, a measure of length (= 3 feet or 0.9144 meters). 2 a pole fixed across a mast for supporting a sail. 3 an enclosed piece of ground near or behind a building. 4 the grounds surrounding a house, a garden. 5 a piece of ground enclosed for a particular purpose (a building yard). |
| yardstick (noun) | a standard by which you measure or judge other things (used her mother’s behavior as a yardstick for her own). |
| yarn (noun) | 1 any type of spun thread. 2 (informal) a made-up or improbable story (the old man was spinning a yarn about his days as a sailor). |
| yashmak (noun) | a veil worn by Muslim women in public. |
| yawn (verb) | 1 to open the mouth wide because of tiredness or boredom. 2 to be wide open (the cave yawned below them). n the act of yawning. |
| ye (pronoun) | (old) you (pl). |
| yea (adverb) | yes. |
| yeah (adverb) | (informal) yes. |
| year (noun) | the time taken by the earth to travel once around the sun; 365 days, especially from 1 January to 31 December; 12 months. |
| yearling (noun) | a one-year-old animal. |
| yearly (adjective) | 1 happening once a year. 2 happening every year. Also adv. |
| yearn (verb) | to desire greatly, to long (for) (yearn for a better way of life). |
| yearning (noun) | a strong desire, a longing. |
| yeast (noun) | a frothy substance used for making bread rise and in making beer, etc. |
| yell (verb) | to scream, to shout loudly and suddenly (yell for help). Also n. |
| yellow (noun) | a bright golden color, as of daffodils. adj 1 of golden color. 2 (informal) cowardly (too yellow to stand up for himself). |
| yellow-fever (noun) | a dangerous tropical disease spread by mosquitoes. |
| yelp (verb) | to utter a sharp cry, as a dog in pain (she yelped as the boulder fell on her foot). Also n. |
| yen1 (noun) | (pl yen) the currency of Japan. |
| yen2 (noun) | (informal) desire (have a yen for sunshine). |
| yeoman (noun) | a farmer, one who owns a small farm of his own. |
| yes | used to express consent, agreement, approval, etc. |
| yesterday (noun) | the day before today. Also adv. |
| yet (adverb) | 1 still. 2 in addition. 3 up to the present. 4 however. 5 all the same. |
| yeti (noun) | a legendary very large creature said to live in the Himalayas. |
| yew (noun) | a large evergreen tree often grown in churchyards. |
| Yiddish (noun) | a language, partly German and Hebrew, spoken by some Jewish people. |
| yield (verb) | 1 to produce (fruit, crops, profit, etc) (the milk yielded by the cattle). 2 to give in, to surrender (the soldiers yield to the enemy). 3 to give way (the door finally yielded to pressure). n 1 the amount produced or made in profit. 2 a crop. |
| yielding (adjective) | giving in easily, easily influenced or managed. |
| yodel (verb) | (yodeled , yodeling ) to sing with frequent changes from one’s ordinary voice to a higher-pitched one. n yodeler. |
| yoga (noun) | 1 a Hindu belief that by prayer and complete control over the body and its desires, you may become one with God. 2 a course of related postures and exercises. |
| yogi (noun) | a person who practices yoga. |
| yogurt (noun) | a food made from fermented milk (have yogurt and fruit for breakfast). |
| yoke | Collective noun for pilots (A yoke of pilots) (see list of collective nouns) |
| yoke (noun) | 1 the part of a garment that fits over the shoulders and round the neck (a black dress with a white yolk). 2 a frame of wood that fits over the necks of two oxen, making them work together when pulling a plow, cart, etc. 3 something that forces people to do something (the yoke of slavery). vb 1 to put together under a yoke. 2 to link together. |
| yokel (noun) | (derog) a country fellow. |
| yolk (noun) | the yellow part of an egg. |
| Yom Kippur (noun) | the Day of Atonement, a Jewish festival involving fasting and repenting. |
| yon, yonder (adjective) | (old) that (one) over there. adv yonder over there. |
| yore (noun) | (old) olden times. of yore in olden times. |
| you (pronoun) | (pl you) the person or people being addressed (you look well). |
| young (adjective) | not old, not grown up, childish, youthful. n 1 all the children or offspring (of) (the lioness and her young). 2 young people in general (entertainments for the young). |
| youngster (noun) | a young person. |
| your (adjective) | belonging to you (I like your perfume). |
| yours (pronoun) | something belonging to you (is this book yours?). |
| yourself (pronoun) | (pl yourselves ) the reflexive form of “you” (take care of yourself). |
| youth (noun) | 1 the early part of one’s life (she lived overseas in her youth). 2 a young man (youths who have just left school). 3 young people (clothes designed for youth). |
| youthful (adjective) | young, young-looking (youthful old people). adv youthfully |
| yowl (verb) | to cry or howl like a dog. Also n. |
| yo-yo (noun) | a toy consisting of a double disk that you move up and down on a string. |
| Yule (noun) | Christmas. |
| Yuletide (noun) | the Christmas season. |
| |
|
|
|
