# reaper

/ˈɹipɝ/ (US) · /ɹˈiːpɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reaper
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a person or a machine that cuts and gathers crops like wheat or corn. In stories, a skeleton called the Grim Reaper represents death.

For teachers: a person or machine that harvests crops by cutting them. When used in the personified sense of the 'Grim Reaper', it serves as a symbolic representation of death.

## Examples

- The reaper worked in the fields from sunrise to sunset.
- Before modern tractors were invented, every reaper had to cut the grain by hand using a sharp tool.
- The image of the hooded reaper carrying a scythe remains one of the most enduring archetypes in Western art, representing the inevitable harvest of human souls.

## Usage notes

- Often used metaphorically in the phrase 'the Grim Reaper' to personify death.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.