yeomanry
1602
yeo·man·ry /'jəʊmənri/ n [the+S+sing/pl. v] BrE especially lit
country landowners
,yeoman 'service n [U] great and loyal service, help, or
support
yep /jep/ adv infml yes
yer /jɜːr/ determiner (used in writing to represent a nonstandard
way of saying) your
yes¹ /jes/ adv 1 (used as an answer expressing agreement or
willingness): 'Is this book a dictionary?' 'Yes, it is.' | 'Is there
anything you need?' 'Yes, there is.' | 'Would you like to go to the
cinema?' 'Yes, please/Yes, I would.' | We can ask them, but I
doubt if they'll say yes. → opposite NO 2 (used when partly
agreeing, but going on to state a different opinion): 'This
system is too expensive for the company to afford.' 'Yes, that's
true, but ...' 3 (used for showing that one has heard a
command or call, and will obey or is paying attention): 'Go
and close the door.' 'Yes, sir.' | 'Michael!' 'Yes?' (=What do you
want?) 4 yes and no (used to show that one partly agrees
and partly disagrees) → see NO (USAGE)
yes² n a vote, voter, or reply in favour of an idea, plan, law
etc: a yes vote
'Yes, Minister a humorous British television programme of
the 1980s about the disagreements between a government
minister, Jim Hacker, and the high-ranking CIVIL SERVANT
who works with him, Sir Humphrey Appleby. Sir Humphrey
uses clever methods to make sure that the minister never
makes any decision which Sir Humphrey does not approve
of. When the character Jim Hacker became Prime Minister,
the name of the programme changed to Yes, Prime Minister.
→ see also SIR HUMPHREY
ye·shi·va, yeshivah /jə'ʃiːvə/ n pl. yeshivas or yeshivoth
/-vɒs/ a school where Jewish students are taught religious
subjects, or may train to become RABBIS (=religious leaders)
yes·man /'jes mæn/ n pl. -men /mən/ derog someone who
always agrees with their employer, leader etc, in order to
gain favour and appear in a good light so that they will
succeed at work
,yes/'no ,question n a question which can be answered
with yes or no and (in English) begins with a verb
yes·ter·day /'jestədeɪl-ər-/ adv, n 1 [U] (on) the day before
this one: It was only yesterday that I saw him. | She came to
tea the day before yesterday. | Is that yesterday's newspaper? |
He left yesterday afternoon. 2 [C usually pl.] a short time ago: I
wasn't born yesterday. (=I'm not a fool) → see DAY (USAGE)
yes·ter·year /'jestəjɪər, -jɜːr || 'jestərjɪər/ n [U] especially poet
the recent past: the songs of yesteryear
yet¹ /jet/ adv 1 [in questions and negatives] up until now or then;
by a particular time; already: Has John arrived yet? | Not yet. |
She hasn't answered yet. | John hasn't done much work yet,
but Anne has already finished. | He wouldn't let me see it
because he hadn't yet finished. 2 in the future; in spite of the
way things seem now: We may win yet. | The plan could
(even) yet succeed. 3 even; still: yet another reason | a yet
worse mistake 4 in spite of that; but: a simple yet very
effective system | strange yet true 5 infml at this time as at earlier
times; still: He is yet a child. | I have yet to hear the story. (=I
have still not heard it) 6 as yet (in questions and negatives)
up to this moment: We have not succeeded as yet. | As yet, we
have received no answer. → see ALREADY (USAGE), JUST
(USAGE), STILL (USAGE)
yet² conj but even so; but: She felt sad yet at the same time
relieved that it was time to leave. | She's a funny girl, (and/
but) yet you can't help liking her.
yet·i /'jeti/ also abominable snowman n a large hairy
manlike animal supposed to live in the Himalaya mountains
yew /juː/ n [C;U] (the wood of) a tree with small EVERGREEN
leaves (=leaves that are always green) and small red berries
Y-fronts /'waɪ frʌnts/ n [plural] BrE a type of men's UNDER-
PANTS which have a sewn part around the opening in the
front, in the shape of an upside-down letter Y
YHA, the /ˌwaɪ eɪtʃ 'eɪ/ abbrev. for the Youth Hostels Associa-
tion; the British organization that runs YOUTH HOSTELS in the
UK, and is a member of the international organization that
runs youth hostels in many other countries
yid /jɪd/ n taboo derog a Jew (considered extremely offensive)
Yid·dish /'jɪdɪʃ/ n [U] a language spoken by Jews, especially
in eastern Europe, often in addition to the language of the
country in which they live
yield¹ /jiːld/ v 1 [T] to produce, bear, or provide, especially
as a result of work or effort: That tree yields plenty of fruit. |
His business yields big profits. | Their long search failed to
yield any clues. | high-yielding investments/cereal
crops 2 [I;T(UP, to)] fml or lit to give up control (of); SURRENDER:
We were forced to yield. | We yielded (up) our position to the
enemy. 3 [I] to bend, break etc, because of a strong force:
The shelf is beginning to yield under that heavy
weight. 4 [I(to)] AmE || give way BrE (a traffic sign) to allow
other traffic to go first: You must yield to traffic from the left.
yield² n that which is produced or the amount that is
produced: The trees gave a high yield (of fruit) this year. |
yields on bonds/securities
yield·ing /'jiːldɪŋ/ adj 1 able to bend; not stiff or
fixed 2 likely to agree with others or accept their wishes;
COMPLIANT
yikes /jaɪks/ interj infml (said when something frightens or
shocks you)
yin /jɪn/ n [U] the female principle in Chinese PHILOSOPHY
which is inactive, dark, and NEGATIVE and which combines
with YANG (=the male principle) to form the whole world.
There should be a balance of yin and yang in everything.
yip·pee /jɪ'piː||'jɪpi/ interj infml (a cry of delight, happiness,
success etc)
YMCA /ˌwaɪ em siː 'eɪ/ n abbrev. for 1 the YMCA Young Men's
Christian Association; an organization in many countries
that provides places to stay and sports activities for young
people 2 one of these places for young men to live or to
play sports
yob /jɒb||jaːb/ also yob·bo /'jɒbəʊ||'jaː-/ n BrE derog a rude or
troublesome young man; LOUT
yo·del¹ /'jəʊdl/ v BrE -ll- || -l- AmE [I;T] to sing (a song or piece
of music) with many fast changes between the natural voice
and a very high voice
yodel
Yodelayeeyoddelloo!
yodel² n a song, piece of music, or cry sung or made by
yodelling
yo·ga /'jəʊgə/ n [U] 1 a Hindu PHILOSOPHY which teaches
control of the mind, senses, and body in order to reach
union with God 2 a branch of yoga (e.g. hatha yoga) which
consists of a system of exercises to gain control over the mind
and especially the body. In British society yoga is usually done
as a way of keeping fit, and is thought of by some people a
slightly strange because of its connections with eastern PHI-
LOSOPHY and MEDITATION.
yog·hurt, yogurt, yoghourt /'jɒgət||'jəʊgərt/ n [U] milk
that has turned thick and slightly acid through the action of
certain bacteria, often eaten with fruit. Yoghurt is usually
thought of as a health food.
yo·gi /'jəʊgi/ n a person who practises yoga, especially on
who teaches it to others
,Yogi 'Bear a US television CARTOON character who has been
popular since the 1960s. Yogi is a clever bear who lives in
Jellystone Park and, with his friend Boo-Boo, is always
trying to steal food from the tourists there.
yoke¹ /jəʊk/ n 1 [C] a wooden bar used for joining two
animals, especially cattle, together in order to pull heavy
loads, farm vehicles etc 2 [C] a frame fitted across a person
shoulders for carrying two equal loads 3 [the+S(of)] lit power,
control etc: They were brought under the yoke of the
king. 4 [the+S(of)] lit something that binds people or things
together: the yoke of marriage