yield
YEELD
/jiːld/
The amount of an agricultural product produced; to produce or provide.
In agriculture, it specifically measures efficiency (e.g., bushels per acre).
The story behind the word. The word originally meant 'to pay' or 'to give back.' In farming, the land 'pays' the farmer for their hard work with a harvest, hence the 'yield' of the field.
Word relationships
- harvest: Harvest is the act of gathering; yield is the total amount gathered.
- output: Output is more general and used in manufacturing; yield is specific to agriculture and finance.
- shortfall: A failure to meet the expected amount of production.
Commonly confused with
- production: Production is the total volume; yield is the volume relative to the area of land used.
Word family
- yielding (adjective): Producing a result or amount.
Collocations
- crop yield
- high yield
- yield potential
Idioms & expressions
- yield fruit
Example sentences
- "Despite the late frost, the wheat yield was higher than expected due to new irrigation techniques." Farming news update.
- "Farmers often choose genetically modified seeds because they promise a more consistent annual yield." Economic analysis of GMOs.
Memory hook
The field 'yields' (gives up) its treasure to the farmer. The harvest's payoff.
When not to use
In a traffic context, it means 'to give way,' which is unrelated to agriculture.
Fun facts
- Global corn yields have increased by over 500% since the 1930s due to technology.
Related words
Also appears in
- Leadership → Submission & Obedience
- Conflict → Compromise & Concession
- Finance → Investment & Portfolio Management
- Finance → Stocks, Bonds & Derivatives
- Nature → Forestry & Agriculture
- Economic Theory & Analysis → Macroeconomic Indicators
- Economic Theory & Analysis → Monetary Policy & Central Banks
- Economic Theory & Analysis → Agrarian Economics
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Sustainable Agriculture & Farming
- Food Science & Culinary Craft → Agricultural Supply Chains
- Everyday Transportation & Driving → Driving Maneuvers & Parking
- Everyday Transportation & Driving → Driver Licensing & Rules
- Agriculture & Farming → Crop Harvesting & Storage
- Agriculture & Farming → Orchards & Viticulture
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