Main Entry:

²prune

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

pruned; prun·ing

Etymology:

Middle English prouynen, probably ultimately from Old French prooignier, alteration of *porrooignier, from por- completely (from Latin pro-) + rooignier to cut, prune, from Vulgar Latin *rotundiare to cut around, from Latin rotundus round — more at pro-, rotund

Date:

15th century

transitive verb1 a: to reduce especially by eliminating superfluous matter <pruned the text> <prune the budget> b: to remove as superfluous <prune away all ornamentation>2: to cut off or cut back parts of for better shape or more fruitful growth <prune the branches>intransitive verb: to cut away what is unwanted or superfluous

— prun·er noun