n.
Pronunciation: ' y ē ld
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gieldan; akin to Old High German geltan to pay
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 archaic : RECOMPENSE , REWARD
2 : to give or render as fitting, rightfully owed, or required
3 : to give up possession of on claim or demand: as a : to give up (as one's breath) and so die b : to surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another : hand over possession of c : to surrender or submit (oneself) to another d : to give (oneself) up to an inclination, temptation, or habit e : to relinquish one's possession of (as a position of advantage or point of superiority) < yield precedence>
4 a : to bear or bring forth as a natural product especially as a result of cultivation <the tree always yield s good fruit> b : to produce or furnish as return <this soil should yield good crops> c (1) : to produce as return from an expenditure or investment : furnish as profit or interest <a bond that yield s 12 percent> (2) : to produce as revenue : BRING IN <the tax is expected to yield millions>
5 : to give up (as a hit or run) in baseball < yield ed two runs in the third inning>
intransitive verb
1 : to be fruitful or productive : BEAR , PRODUCE
2 : to give up and cease resistance or contention : SUBMIT , SUCCUMB <facing an enemy who would not yield > < yield ing to temptation>
3 : to give way to pressure or influence : submit to urging, persuasion, or entreaty
4 : to give way under physical force (as bending, stretching, or breaking)
5 a : to give place or precedence : acknowledge the superiority of someone else b : to be inferior <our dictionary yield s to none> c : to give way to or become succeeded by someone or something else
6 : to relinquish the floor of a legislative assembly
synonyms YIELD , SUBMIT , CAPITULATE , SUCCUMB , RELENT , DEFER mean to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist. YIELD may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty < yields too easily in any argument>. SUBMIT suggests full surrendering after resistance or conflict to the will or control of another <a repentant sinner vowing to submit to the will of God>. CAPITULATE stresses the fact of ending all resistance and may imply either a coming to terms (as with an adversary) or hopelessness in the face of an irresistible opposing force <officials capitulated to the protesters' demands>. SUCCUMB implies weakness and helplessness to the one that gives way or an overwhelming power to the opposing force <a stage actor succumbing to the lure of Hollywood>. RELENT implies a yielding through pity or mercy by one who holds the upper hand <finally relented and let the children stay up late>. DEFER implies a voluntary yielding or submitting out of respect or reverence for or deference and affection toward another <I defer to your expertise in these matters>. synonym see in addition RELINQUISH