Input: increased input of fertilizer increases crop yield

Question

input (noun)1 : something that is put in: as  a : an amount put in  increased input of fertilizer increases crop yield b : power or energy put into a machine or system for storage, conversion in kind, or conversion of characteristics usually with the intent of sizable recovery in the form of output  c : a component of production (as land, labor, or raw materials) [M-W's Col. Dic.]I couldn't understand 1b and 1c senses. Could you please explain them to me? It would be kind of you. Thank you.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

The definition is troublesome. May I just give an example?

You plug your computer into the wall (perhaps 120 volts AC) and the machine "processes" the power, changing its "kind" and "characteristics" to DC, by means of rectifiers, and usually to a variety of different voltages by means of transformers.

If you plug a battery charger into that same wall receptacle, and hook the output leads to your car battery, the energy is converted from [kenetic] 120 VAC to [potential] stored 12VDC.

The input is what you start out with in a given process. It could be radiant infrared from the sun converted to electricity or to heat. It could be hydraulic head (eg, water at an elevation) run through a turbine to generate electricity, etc., etc. It could be the wind running a wind turbine.

"C." seems to be talking about farming and manufacturing.
With farming, you input labor, fertilizer, seeds, rain, sun; and get turnips.
With manufacturing, you input wood, energy and labor and get furniture, etc.

Jackson6612 · Answer

Avangi, that was a very good explanatio. Thank you.

Actually I was thinking of "production" in this sense: something produced : PRODUCT. This was totally opposite of "input", in my opinion. Now it's clear that this sense is used: the act or process of producing.

I hope you won't mind my asking another question(s).

production
1 c : something exaggerated out of proportion to its importance
2 a : the act or process of producing b : the creation of utility; especially : the making of goods available for use
4 often attributive : something not specially designed or customized and usually mass-produced a production car *production housing*
[M-W's Col. Dic.]

"to its importance" - Does it mean to make something seem more important that it really is?

"the making of goods available for use" - Is it almost equivalent in meaning to "to make goods available for use by"?

"production housing" - I think it refers to the projects where they many alike housed under several categories - budget houses, elite houses. Please correct me if wrong.

Please help me with the problems. Thanks a lot.

Avangi · Answer

1c : Your understanding is correct.

I think that use of "production" came out of Broadway and Hollywood in the 30's and 40's. I may be wrong. A "big production" was a big-budget show or movie - usually a musical - huge cast, extravagant sets and costumes, etc. (A show/movie is called a "production," especially in the early stages. Some editing and cutting of a movie is called "post-production.")

So we came up with the expression, when someone was exaggerating the magnitude of some project: "Hey, don't (let's not) make a big production [out] of it! Okay??!!"

It can refer to the project itself, or to someone's description of it: the project is overblown in relation to it's purpose, or some person is making a mountain out of a molehill.

2 a & b manufacturing, especially of finished products, as opposed to raw materials, eg, milling.

4. "tract houses," "stock cars" (all the same - not customized) You have it right!

"the making of goods available for use" - Is it almost equivalent in meaning to "to make goods available for use by"?
"The making of" describes the name of the process. "To make X" describes the act - doing it.

So "product" is only the thing/stuff made.

Uncountable "production" is the process of making things or stuff.

Countable production I think of mainly as a show biz term. It's the assembles company of actors and property/equipment associated with a particular show.

There may be other countable uses.

Input: increased input of fertilizer increases crop yield

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