harvest

/ˈhɑːrvɪst/
the process of gathering crops

Farmers work hard during the harvest season to collect their crops.

This shows the effort involved in gathering crops during the harvest season.

◆ What It Really Means
to take advantage of easy or obvious opportunities
Literal Meaning
to gather crops or other natural products
Literal Breakdown
harvestthe act of gathering crops
◇ Mental Image
The mental picture of gathering ripe crops, which is metaphorically extended to gathering opportunities.
◈ When to Use
In a business meeting, someone might say, 'Let's harvest the low-hanging fruit first,' meaning they should focus on the easiest opportunities.
◉ Cultural Note
The phrase 'harvest the low-hanging fruit' is a common business idiom, emphasizing the importance of starting with the easiest tasks or opportunities.
general

the process of gathering crops or other natural products from the earth

The harvest of wheat is crucial for the local economy.

This emphasizes the importance of wheat collection to the local economy.

Can also refer to gathering other natural products like fish or timber.

general

to gather or collect crops or other natural products

They will harvest the apples next week.

This indicates the planned collection of apples.

Can be used metaphorically to mean collecting or obtaining something valuable.

Collocations

harvest seasonthe time of year when crops are gatheredharvest festivala celebration of the gathering of cropsharvest moonthe full moon closest to the autumnal equinox

Antonyms

Related Phrases

harvest of soulsmetaphor
a metaphorical reference to death or loss of life
harvest the low-hanging fruitidiom
to take advantage of easy or obvious opportunities

Pro Tip

Usage Tip

When using 'harvest' as a verb, it often implies the act of gathering crops or other natural products.

Gold Rule

Noun vs. Verb

'Harvest' can be both a noun (the process or the crops) and a verb (the act of gathering).

Word Origin

From Old English 'hærfest', meaning 'autumn' or 'harvest season', related to 'hærfest' (autumn) and 'hærfest' (harvest).

Usage Notes

Can be used both as a noun and a verb. The noun refers to the process or the crops gathered, while the verb refers to the act of gathering.

Word Breakdown

harvest
gathering or collection
root
English Dictionary