Real Dictionary

yoke
If you say that people are under the yoke of a bad thing or person, you mean they are forced to live in a difficult or unhappy state because of that thing or person.
countable noun: A yoke is a long piece of wood which is tied across the necks of two animals such as oxen, in order to make them walk close together when they are pulling a plough.
verb: If two or more people or things are yoked together, they are forced to be closely linked with each other.

yoke in American English 2
noun: yolk

yoke in American Englishfor 2 1
intransitive verb: to be or become joined, linked, or united
noun: a device for joining together a pair of draft animals, esp. oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal
transitive verb: to put a yoke on; join or couple by means of a yoke

yoke in British English
noun: a wooden frame, usually consisting of a bar with an oxbow or similar collar-like piece at either end, for attaching to the necks of a pair of draught animals, esp oxen, so that they can be worked as a team
verb: to secure or harness (a draught animal) to (a plough, vehicle, etc) by means of a yoke