Autumn is the season between summer and winter where deciduous trees shed their leaves and most crops are harvested. The leaves change color before falling off the trees in a phenomenon called "fall foliage". Autumn marks shorter, cooler days with longer nights and increasing precipitation. The word "autumn" comes from the French word "automne" and became popular in the 16th century, while the North American term "fall" likely derived from the phrase "fall of the leaves".