prune

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: snipclipcroptrimlopdresscut backcutrationalizerationalise

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. dried plum

Verb (2)

  1. cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of“dress the plants in the garden”Synonyms: snipclipcroptrimlopdresscut back
  2. weed out unwanted or unnecessary things“We had to lose weight, so we cut the sugar from our diet”Synonyms: cutrationalizerationalise
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Prune \Prune\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pruned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pruning.] [OE. proine, probably fr. F. provigner to lay down vine stocks for propagation; hence, probably, the meaning, to cut away superfluous shoots. See Provine.]

1.To lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of; to clear of useless material; to shape or smooth by trimming; to trim: as, to prune trees; to prune an essay. --Thackeray. [1913 Webster]

Taking into consideration how they [laws] are to be pruned and reformed.— Bacon.[1913 Webster]
Our delightful task To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

2.To cut off or cut out, as useless parts. [1913 Webster]

Horace will our superfluous branches prune.— Waller.[1913 Webster]

3.To preen; to prepare; to dress. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

His royal bird Prunes the immortal wing and cloys his beak.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
Prune \Prune\, v. i. To dress; to prink; -used humorously or in contempt. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
Prune \Prune\, n. [F. prune, from L. prunum a plum. See Plum.] A plum; esp., a dried plum, used in cookery; as, French or Turkish prunes; California prunes. [1913 Webster]

German prune (Bot.), a large dark purple plum, of oval shape, often one-sided. It is much used for preserving, either dried or in sirup.

Prune tree. (Bot.) (a) A tree of the genus Prunus (Prunus domestica), which produces prunes. (b) The West Indian tree, Prunus occidentalis.

South African prune (Bot.), the edible fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Pappea Capensis). [1913 Webster]

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