Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cut and gather (a crop) for harvest: The primary meaning refers to the agricultural action of cutting and collecting mature crops, especially grain.
   • To receive or obtain (something, especially a benefit or consequence) as a result of one's own or others' actions: This figurative meaning describes gaining a reward, profit, or outcome.

Usage Examples

• Literal (Agricultural):
  • The farmers will reap the wheat next week.
  • It took three days to reap the entire field.
• Figurative (Receive a consequence or benefit):
  • She reaped significant rewards from her years of hard work.
  • The company reaped the benefits of its early investment in technology.

Advanced Usage

• "to reap the harvest/whirlwind": to suffer severe consequences, often from foolish actions.
  • By ignoring the warnings, they ultimately reaped the whirlwind.
• "to reap what one sows": to experience the consequences, good or bad, of one's own actions.
  • If you treat people poorly, you will eventually reap what you sow.

Variants and Related Words

• Reaper (n): A person or machine that cuts and gathers crops.
  • The farmer used a mechanical reaper.
• Reaping (n): The act or process of cutting and gathering crops.
  • The reaping will begin at dawn.

Synonyms

• Harvest: To gather a ripened crop.
• Gain: To obtain or secure something desired.
• Derive: To receive or obtain from a source.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(The word 'reap' is not commonly used in standard phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically expressed directly or through idiomatic phrases.)

Related Idioms

• "Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind": To start a process that leads to disastrous consequences.
  • Their reckless policies meant they sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind.
• "Reap where one has not sown": To benefit from the work of others without having done any work oneself.
  • The new manager seemed to reap where he had not sown, taking credit for the team's success.

Verb

1. get or derive
   • He drew great benefits from his membership in the association
2. gather, as of natural products
   • harvest the grapes