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yield

YEELD /jiːld/

nounverbB1SATACTIELTSTOEFL

generaltechnical

The amount of agricultural product produced, such as crops, fruit, or wine; to produce or provide.

In agriculture, it refers to the volume of harvest relative to the area of land cultivated.

The story behind the word. Originating from the Old English 'gieldan', which meant to pay back, render, or worship. Over the centuries, the meaning shifted from paying a debt to 'giving back' a harvest from the earth in exchange for the farmer's labor.

Word relationships

harvest: Harvest is the act of gathering the crops, while yield is the measured quantity of what was gathered.
output: Output is a general industrial term, whereas yield is preferred in biological, chemical, and agricultural contexts.

Commonly confused with

produce: Produce is a general noun for agricultural products (like vegetables in a grocery store), while yield is the specific measurement of harvest volume.

Word family

yielding (adjective): Producing a result or crop; compliant.

Collocations

crop yield
high yield
yield per acre

Idioms & expressions

yield fruit (to produce positive results)

Example sentences

"Organic farming methods can sometimes result in a lower initial yield." Farming statistics
"New irrigation techniques helped the farm yield more crops per acre." Scientific study

Memory hook

The field will yield its crops to you if you work hard. Yield is what the field gives.

When not to use

Do not confuse with the traffic instruction 'yield' (to give way), though they share the same spelling and origin.

Fun facts

In high-end winemaking, growers deliberately restrict their grape yield by cutting off healthy clusters, forcing the vine to concentrate all its flavor into the remaining grapes.