cull

¹cull

verb \ˈkəl\

Definition of CULL

transitive verb

1

: to select from a group : choose <culled the best passages from the poet's work>

2

: to reduce or control the size of (as a herd) by removal (as by hunting) of especially weaker animals; also : to hunt or kill (animals) as a means of population control

— cull·er noun

Examples of CULL

1. He culls his herd annually.
2. The town issued hunting licenses in order to cull the deer population.

Origin of CULL

Middle English, from Anglo-French culier, coillir, from Latin colligere to bind together — more at collect

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to CULL

Synonyms: cherry-pick, choose, elect, handpick, name, opt (for), pick, prefer, select, single (out), tag, take

Antonyms: decline, refuse, reject, turn down

Related Words: preselect; appoint, designate, fix, mark, nominate, set, tab, tap; accept, adopt, embrace, espouse; settle (on or upon)

Near Antonyms: disapprove, negative, repudiate, spurn; discard, jettison, throw away, throw out

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