Word
yearling
Phoneticsyear·ling, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈjɝɫɪŋ/
UK/jˈiəlɪŋ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. an animal that is between one and two years old. It is most often used to talk about horses or cattle.
n. an animal that has entered its second year of life but has not yet reached its second birthday. Frequently used in the context of livestock management and horse racing.
Examples
“The farmer moved the yearling into a separate field.”
“At the summer auction, several promising yearlings were sold to racing stables looking for future champions.”
“Managing the nutritional intake of a yearling is critical, as this developmental stage determines the animal's eventual skeletal strength and athletic potential.”
Examples
simple
“The farmer moved the yearling into a separate field.”
contextual
“At the summer auction, several promising yearlings were sold to racing stables looking for future champions.”
complex
“Managing the nutritional intake of a yearling is critical, as this developmental stage determines the animal's eventual skeletal strength and athletic potential.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “yearling” in context.
Verb
01. auction yearling
“The estate plans to auction every yearling produced this season.”
verb + noun
02. break yearling
“It takes several months of consistent work to properly break a yearling for riding.”
verb + noun
03. halter-break yearling
“The first step in management is to halter-break the yearling early in the spring.”
verb + noun
04. yearling grazes
“A lone yearling grazes peacefully in the high mountain meadow.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. prized yearling
“The rancher refused to sell his prized yearling despite the lucrative offer.”
adj + noun
06. spirited yearling
“The spirited yearling galloped across the paddock, showing great athletic potential.”
adj + noun
07. thoroughbred yearling
“The auction featured a record-breaking thoroughbred yearling from a champion sire.”
adj + noun
08. unbroken yearling
“Training an unbroken yearling requires immense patience and a gentle hand.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. crop of yearlings
“This year's crop of yearlings is considered the finest in a decade.”
noun + prep + noun
10. sale of yearling
“The annual sale of yearlings attracts buyers from all over the world.”
noun + prep + noun
11. consign a yearling to sale
“The breeder decided to consign the yearling to the prestigious October sale.”
12. top-priced yearling at auction
“The top-priced yearling at auction was a colt sired by a Triple Crown winner.”
Usage
Commonly used as a modifier before other nouns, such as 'yearling filly' or 'yearling bull'.
Real-World Examples
“Having taken on Belmont Farm in 2024, the pair now had 18 buffalo, including three calves and five yearlings - with eight still to calve.” “Sheikh Mohammed outbid Amo Racing’s Kia Joorabchian to snatch the top lot at the Tattersalls yearling sale in Newmarket this week where over 130 million pounds ($172.63 million) changed hands in a bid to secure racing’s next star.” Etymology
From Middle English yerling, yerlyng, equivalent to year + -ling. Cognate with Dutch jaarling (“yearling”), German Jährling (“yearling”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
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