Yoke vs. Burden — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 3, 2024
A yoke is a physical device for joining two animals together for work, while a burden is a heavy load, either literal or figurative.
Difference Between Yoke and Burden
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A yoke is traditionally a wooden beam used to couple a pair of oxen or other animals, enabling them to pull together on a load. This physical object is designed to distribute the weight of the load efficiently across the animals' shoulders. Whereas a burden refers to something that is carried, often a heavy load that causes hardship or distress. It can be a physical object, like a backpack full of bricks, or a metaphorical one, such as emotional stress.
While the term yoke is used literally in agricultural and historical contexts to describe a tool for harnessing animals, it can also have metaphorical implications, representing subjugation or control. For example, being under the yoke of an oppressor. On the other hand, a burden typically connotes a heavy load that one has to bear, emphasizing the weight or difficulty involved, whether it be responsibilities, problems, or emotional issues.
In some contexts, the metaphorical use of both terms can overlap, where a yoke may symbolize an imposed burden of labor or duty. However, a yoke implies a form of partnership or cooperation, as it is designed for two, suggesting a shared load or task. Burden, in contrast, often focuses on the individual's experience of carrying a weight, emphasizing the personal struggle or challenge.
The physical yoke, by its design, facilitates work or travel, making it possible to carry or pull heavier loads than an individual could manage alone. This aspect highlights the utility and positive function of a yoke in terms of collaboration and efficiency. A burden, however, does not inherently carry this notion of utility or shared effort; it primarily signifies the weight and potential hindrance it poses to the bearer.
Understanding the distinction between a yoke and a burden can also illuminate different cultural and historical attitudes towards work, responsibility, and oppression. The yoke can symbolize both unity and bondage, depending on its use and context. A burden, conversely, more universally represents challenges and obligations that weigh on an individual or group, with a less explicit emphasis on cooperation or external imposition.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A device for joining two animals to pull a load together.
A heavy load, either literal or figurative, that causes hardship.
Literal Use
Agricultural tool for harnessing animals.
Anything that is difficult to carry.
Metaphorical Use
Symbol of subjugation, control, or partnership.
Symbol of personal struggle, responsibility, or emotional stress.
Implication
Implies cooperation or shared load.
Focuses on individual challenge or hardship.
Utility
Facilitates collaborative work or burden-sharing.
Signifies hindrance or challenge without inherent utility.
Compare with Definitions
Yoke
A device for coupling animals together.
They used a wooden yoke to harness the oxen to the plow.
Burden
Responsibilities or duties that weigh heavily.
The burdens of leadership often kept him awake at night.
Yoke
Tool for carrying or pulling loads.
The farmer attached the yoke to the horses for the day’s work.
Burden
A cause of great worry or stress.
The debt became a heavy burden to the family.
Yoke
Metaphorical for connection or link.
Their shared goals served as a yoke, binding them together.
Burden
A heavy load that is difficult to carry.
He struggled under the burden of his backpack.
Yoke
Symbol of subjugation or bondage.
The people lived under the yoke of a tyrannical ruler.
Burden
Symbol of emotional or psychological stress.
She carried the burden of guilt for years.
Yoke
Representation of unity or partnership.
The team's collaboration was a yoke that brought them success.
Burden
Something that is hard to bear.
Illness can be a burdensome load for both the patient and their loved ones.
Yoke
A yoke is a wooden beam normally used between a pair of oxen or other animals to enable them to pull together on a load when working in pairs, as oxen usually do; some yokes are fitted to individual animals. There are several types of yoke, used in different cultures, and for different types of oxen.
Burden
Something that is carried.
Yoke
A wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plough or cart that they are to pull.
Burden
Something that is emotionally difficult to bear.
Yoke
A part of a garment that fits over the shoulders and to which the main part of the garment is attached
The pinafore fell amply from a short yoke
Burden
A source of great worry or stress; weight
The burden of economic sacrifice rests on the workers of the plant.
Yoke
A frame fitting over the neck and shoulders of a person, used for carrying pails or baskets.
Burden
A responsibility or duty
The burden of organizing the campaign fell to me.
Yoke
The crossbar of a rudder.
Burden
A principal or recurring idea; a theme
"The burden of what he said was to defend enthusiastically the conservative aristocracy" (J.A. Froude).
Yoke
A control lever in an aircraft.
Burden
A drone, as of a bagpipe or pedal point.
Yoke
A thing whose name one cannot recall, does not know, or does not wish to specify
How much did that yoke set you back?
Burden
(Archaic) The chorus or refrain of a composition.
Yoke
Put a yoke on (a pair of animals); couple or attach with or to a yoke
A plough drawn by a camel and donkey yoked together
Burden
(Archaic) The bass accompaniment to a song.
Yoke
Attack, especially by strangling
Two crackheads yoked this girl
Burden
The amount of cargo that a vessel can carry.
Yoke
A contoured crossbar having two U-shaped attachments that fit around the necks of a team of oxen or other draft animals, with a central ring for hitching the team to a cart, plow, or other load.
Burden
The weight of the cargo carried by a vessel at one time.
Yoke
Pl. yoke or yokes A pair of draft animals, such as oxen, joined by a yoke.
Burden
The amount of a disease-causing entity present in an organism.
Yoke
A bar used with a double harness to connect the collar of each horse to the pole of a wagon or coach.
Burden
To cause difficulty or distress to; distress or oppress.
Yoke
A frame designed to be carried across a person's shoulders with equal loads suspended from each end.
Burden
To load or overload.
Yoke
(Nautical) A crossbar on a ship's rudder to which the steering cables are connected.
Burden
A heavy load.
Yoke
A clamp or vise that holds a machine part in place or controls its movement or that holds two such parts together.
Burden
A responsibility, onus.
Yoke
A piece of a garment that is closely fitted, either around the neck and shoulders or at the hips, and from which an unfitted or gathered part of the garment is hung.
Burden
A cause of worry; that which is grievous, wearisome, or oppressive.
Yoke
Something that connects or joins together; a bond or tie.
Burden
The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will carry.
A ship of a hundred tons burden
Yoke
(Electronics) A series of two or more magnetic recording heads fastened securely together for playing or recording on more than one track simultaneously.
Burden
(mining) The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin.
Yoke
Any of various emblems of subjugation, such as a structure made of two upright spears with a third laid across them, under which conquered enemies of ancient Rome were forced to march in subjection.
Burden
(metalworking) The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace.
Yoke
The condition of being subjugated by or as if by a conqueror; subjugation or bondage
14th-century Russia under the Tatar yoke.
The yoke of drug addiction.
Burden
A fixed quantity of certain commodities.
A burden of gad steel is 120 pounds.
Yoke
To fit or join with a yoke.
Burden
A birth.
... that bore thee at a burden two fair sons.
Yoke
To harness a draft animal to.
Burden
(medicine) The total amount of toxins, parasites, cancer cells, plaque or similar present in an organism.
Yoke
To harness (a draft animal) to a vehicle or an implement.
Burden
(music) A phrase or theme that recurs at the end of each verse in a folk song or ballad.
Yoke
To join together; bind
Partners who were yoked together for life.
Burden
The drone of a bagpipe.
Yoke
To force into heavy labor, bondage, or subjugation.
Burden
Theme, core idea.
The burden of the argument
Yoke
To become joined.
Burden
(transitive) To encumber with a literal or figurative burden.
To burden a nation with taxes
Yoke
Senses relating to a frame around the neck.
Burden
(transitive) To impose, as a load or burden; to lay or place as a burden (something heavy or objectionable).
Yoke
A bar or frame by which two oxen or other draught animals are joined at their necks enabling them to pull a cart, plough, etc.; (by extension) a device attached to a single draught animal for the same purpose.
Burden
That which is borne or carried; a load.
Plants with goodly burden bowing.
Yoke
Any of various linking or supporting objects that resembles a yoke (sense 1.1); a crosspiece, a curved bar, etc.
Burden
That which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is grievous, wearisome, or oppressive.
Deaf, giddy, helpless, left alone,To all my friends a burden grown.
Yoke
(historical)
Burden
The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will carry; as, a ship of a hundred tons burden.
Yoke
Senses relating to a pair of harnessed draught animals.
Burden
The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of tin.
Yoke
A pair of draught animals, especially oxen, yoked together to pull something.
Burden
The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a blast furnace.
Yoke
(archaic) A pair of things linked in some way.
Burden
A fixed quantity of certain commodities; as, a burden of gad steel, 120 pounds.
Yoke
A carriage, a horse and cart; a car or other vehicle.
Burden
A birth.
Yoke
A miscellaneous object; a gadget.
Burden
The verse repeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the end of each stanza; the chorus; refrain. Hence: That which is often repeated or which is dwelt upon; the main topic; as, the burden of a prayer.
I would sing my song without a burden.
Yoke
A chap, a fellow.
Burden
The drone of a bagpipe.
Yoke
A pill of a psychoactive drug.
Burden
A club.
Yoke
Senses relating to quantities, and other extended uses.
Burden
To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy load upon; to load.
I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened.
Yoke
An area of arable land, specifically one consisting of a quarter of a suling, or around 50–60 acres (20–24 hectares); hence, a small manor or piece of land.
Burden
To oppress with anything grievous or trying; to overload; as, to burden a nation with taxes.
My burdened heart would break.
Yoke
An amount of work done with draught animals, lasting about half a day; (by extension) an amount or shift of any work.
Burden
To impose, as a load or burden; to lay or place as a burden (something heavy or objectionable).
It is absurd to burden this act on Cromwell.
Yoke
(figuratively)
Burden
An onerous or difficult concern;
The burden of responsibility
That's a load off my mind
Yoke
Misspelling of yolk
Burden
Weight to be borne or conveyed
Yoke
(transitive)
Burden
The central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
Yoke
To join (several draught animals) together with a yoke; also, to fasten a yoke (on one or more draught animals) to pull a cart, plough, etc.; or to attach (a cart, plough, etc.) to a draught animal.
Burden
The central idea that is expanded in a document or discourse
Yoke
To put (one's arm or arms) around someone's neck, waist, etc.; also, to surround (someone's neck, waist, etc.) with one's arms.
Burden
Weight down with a load
Yoke
To put (something) around someone's neck like a yoke; also, to surround (someone's neck) with something.
Burden
Impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to;
He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend
Yoke
(historical)
Yoke
(figuratively)
Yoke
To be joined to (another person) in wedlock (often with the implication that it is a burdensome state); to be or become married to (someone).
Yoke
(intransitive)
Yoke
To be or become connected, linked, or united in a relationship; to have dealings with.
Yoke
To be or become joined in wedlock; to be married, to wed.
Yoke
A bar or frame of wood by which two oxen are joined at the heads or necks for working together.
A yearling bullock to thy name shall smoke,Untamed, unconscious of the galling yoke.
Yoke
A frame or piece resembling a yoke, as in use or shape.
Yoke
Fig.: That which connects or binds; a chain; a link; a bond connection.
Boweth your neck under that blissful yoke . . . Which that men clepeth spousal or wedlock.
This yoke of marriage from us both remove.
Yoke
A mark of servitude; hence, servitude; slavery; bondage; service.
Our country sinks beneath the yoke.
My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Yoke
Two animals yoked together; a couple; a pair that work together.
I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them.
Yoke
The quantity of land plowed in a day by a yoke of oxen.
Yoke
A portion of the working day; as, to work two yokes, that is, to work both portions of the day, or morning and afternoon.
Yoke
A clamp or similar piece that embraces two other parts to hold or unite them in their respective or relative positions, as a strap connecting a slide valve to the valve stem, or the soft iron block or bar permanently connecting the pole pieces of an electromagnet, as in a dynamo.
Yoke
To put a yoke on; to join in or with a yoke; as, to yoke oxen, or pair of oxen.
Yoke
To couple; to join with another.
Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb.
Yoke
To enslave; to bring into bondage; to restrain; to confine.
Then were they yoked with garrisons.
The words and promises that yokeThe conqueror are quickly broke.
Yoke
To be joined or associated; to be intimately connected; to consort closely; to mate.
We 'll yoke together, like a double shadow.
Yoke
Fabric comprising a fitted part at the top of a garment
Yoke
An oppresssive power;
Under the yoke of a tyrant
They threw off the yoke of domination
Yoke
Two items of the same kind
Yoke
A pair of draft animals joined by a yoke;
Pulled by a yoke of oxen
Yoke
Support consisting of a wooden frame across the shoulders that enables a person to carry buckets hanging from each end
Yoke
A connection (like a clamp or vise) between two things so they move together
Yoke
Stable gear that joins two draft animals at the neck so they can work together as a team
Yoke
Become joined or linked together
Yoke
Link with or as with a yoke;
Yoke the oxen together
Yoke
Put a yoke on or join with a yoke;
Yoke the draft horses together
Common Curiosities
Can a yoke be metaphorical?
Yes, metaphorically, a yoke can represent subjugation, control, or a partnership.
Can a yoke be positive?
Yes, a yoke can symbolize positive aspects like cooperation and shared effort.
What is a yoke used for?
A yoke is used to couple animals together to efficiently pull a load.
Is a burden always negative?
While a burden implies hardship or stress, the experience of overcoming it can lead to growth or positive change.
Is a yoke always physical?
While originally a physical tool, yoke is often used metaphorically to describe relationships or conditions.
How do yokes and burdens relate to each other?
A yoke can be a means to more efficiently manage a burden, especially in the context of shared work or responsibility.
How do yokes and burdens impact mental health?
Both can cause stress, but their impact varies greatly based on the individual's perception and context.
What does it mean to carry a burden?
To carry a burden means to bear a heavy load, which can be either literal or symbolic, such as responsibilities or emotional stress.
Are burdens always imposed by others?
No, burdens can be self-imposed, such as personal goals or expectations, or arise from external circumstances.
Can sharing a burden make it lighter?
Yes, sharing a burden with others can dist
How does the concept of a yoke differ culturally?
Culturally, a yoke can symbolize everything from oppression to unity, depending on historical and social contexts.
Can a person be a burden?
Yes, in a metaphorical sense, taking care of someone or managing a relationship can be described as carrying a burden.
What types of burdens are there?
Burdens can be physical, such as carrying a heavy load, or figurative, like emotional stress or responsibilities.
How do I know if I'm under a yoke or carrying a burden?
Reflect on whether the challenge involves shared effort or control (yoke) versus personal hardship or responsibility (burden).
Can the removal of a yoke be symbolic?
Yes, removing a yoke can symbolize liberation from control or subjugation.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
