/ jiːld; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[ vn ] to produce or provide sth, for example a profit, result or crop :
Higher-rate deposit accounts yield good returns.
The research has yielded useful information.
trees that no longer yield fruit
2.
[ v ] yield (to sth/sb) to stop resisting sth/sb; to agree to do sth that you do not want to do
SYN give way :
After a long siege, the town was forced to yield.
He reluctantly yielded to their demands.
I yielded to temptation and had a chocolate bar.
3.
[ vn ] yield sth/sb (up) (to sb) ( formal ) to allow sb to win, have or take control of sth that has been yours until now
SYN surrender :
He refused to yield up his gun.
( figurative )
The universe is slowly yielding up its secrets.
4.
[ v ] to move, bend or break because of pressure :
Despite our attempts to break it, the lock would not yield.
5.
[ v ] yield (to sb/sth) ( NAmE , IrishE ) to allow vehicles on a bigger road to go first
SYN give way :
Yield to oncoming traffic.
a yield sign
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- yield to sth
■ noun
[ C , U ] the total amount of crops, profits, etc. that are produced :
a high crop yield
a reduction in milk yield
This will give a yield of 10% on your investment.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English g(i)eldan pay, repay , of Germanic origin. The senses produce, bear and surrender arose in Middle English .