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 verb 1 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