har·vest / ˈhärvist/ • n. the process or period of gathering in crops: helping with the harvest. ∎  the season's yield or crop: a poor harvest. ∎  a quantity of animals caught or killed for human use: a limited harvest of wild mink. ∎ fig. the product or result of an action: in terms of science, Apollo yielded a meager harvest.• v. [tr.] gather (a crop) as a harvest: [as n.] (harvesting) after harvesting, most of the crop is stored in large buildings. ∎  catch or kill (animals) for human consumption or use. ∎  remove (cells, tissue, or an organ) from a person or animal for transplantation or experimental purposes. ∎ fig. gain (something) as the result of an action: the movie has harvested $105.7 million overseas.DERIVATIVES: har·vest·a·ble adj.har·vest·er n.

harvest the gathering in of crops.
harvest festival a celebration of the annual harvest, especially (in Britain) one held in schools and as a service in Christian churches, to which gifts of food are brought for the poor.
harvest home (a festival marking) the gathering in of the final part of the year's harvest.
harvest moon the full moon that is seen nearest to the time of the autumn equinox.

See also reap the harvest of.

harvest autumn, spec. as the season for gathering the ripened grain OE.; the gathering itself, corn-crop XVI. OE. hærfest = (M)Du. herfst, OHG. herbist (G. herbst autumn), ON. haust :- Gmc. *χarbistaz, *-ustaz, f. *χarb- :- IE. *karp-, as in L. carpere pluck, Gr. karpós fruit.
Hence vb. XIV. harvest-home XVI.

Harvest

one season’s yield of any natural product.

Examples: harvest of bark, 1880; of captives, 1613; of grouse, 1881; of hate; of honey, 1697; of mice, 1607; of perpetual peace, 1594; of souls.