Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Sense: 1-2
Date: 1800-1900
Language: Japanese
Origin: en, from Chinese yuan; YUAN
Sense: 3
Date: 1900-2000
Language: Chinese
Origin: yan

yen

 noun
     
Related topics: Currencies
yen plural yen
1 [countable]PEC the standard unit of money in Japan: symbol ¥
2

the yen

the value of Japanese money in relation to the money of other countries:
The dollar fell by 24 percent against the yen (=decreased in value in relation to the yen) between 1970 and 1973.
3 [singular] a strong desire
yen for
a yen for foreign travel
yen to do something
She'd always had a yen to write a book.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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