UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: threshing floor

Semantic entry: 7.65

Semantic domains: Constructions

Subdomains: Miscellaneous Constructions

Definition: a surface of hard ground or stone where grain was threshed out, either by beating or having animals trample upon it

Notes: The meaning of ἅλων as ‘threshing floor’ forms the basis for the figurative extension of meaning (a metonymy) referring to the threshed grain still lying on the threshing floor (see 3.43: ἅλων). The meaning may be made clear by rendering ‘to thresh out completely all of the grain.’ On the other hand, it is possible to interpret ἅλων in RV MAT 3:12 · LV MAT 3:12 · Read together MAT 3:12 in a literal sense and translate ‘he will clean up his threshing floor,’ that is, by gathering up the grain and getting rid of the straw and chaff.

Further resources: realia:1.1.8.1

Sense 2: threshed grain

Semantic entry: 3.43

Semantic domains: Plants

Subdomains: Fruit Parts of Plants

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of ἅλων[a] ‘threshing floor,’ 7.65: ἅλων) grain in the process of being threshed

Notes: ἅλων in RV MAT 3:12 · LV MAT 3:12 · Read together MAT 3:12 may also be interpreted as a threshing floor (see 7.65: ἅλων).