prune

play

noun \ ˈprün \

Definition of prune

:a plum dried or capable of drying without fermentation

See prune defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of prune from the Web

PG&E prunes or removes about 1.2 million trees each year, the company said.

— joseph serna, latimes.com, "Dead Sierra Nevada trees rise again in Burning Man temple in Black Rock Desert," 24 Aug. 2017
Makes 10 Soak prunes in 1½ cups hot water in a medium bowl until very soft, about 20 minutes.

— Bon Appetit, "Sesame Balls (Jian Dui)," 15 Aug. 2017
Still, in this year’s legislative session, Abbott and likeminded lawmakers pushed an assortment of measures to knock down, or at least severely prune, ordinances.

— will weissert, star-telegram, "With Gov. Abbott leading them, Texas Republicans look to axe local tree rules," 11 Aug. 2017
Still, in this year’s legislative session, Abbott and likeminded lawmakers pushed an assortment of measures to knock down, or at least severely prune, ordinances.

— Washington Post, "Timber! Top Texas Republicans look to axe local tree rules," 11 Aug. 2017
But there are a number of great plums out there, from the unassuming but sweet and flavorful Greengage, to dark, oblong Italian prune plums, which make perfect baking fruit.

— noelle carter, latimes.com, "Plums are in season. We have recipes," 30 June 2017
Pruning needs: Tip prune when young to increase branching; cut back in late winter to encourage dense growth in spring and summer.

— debbie arrington, sacbee.com, "Cedros Island verbena offers bountiful blooms," 12 May 2017
Then in spring, prune just above the first set of buds if the plant has not died back to the ground.

— tim johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Why certain hydrangea cultivars are hard to grow in Chicago," 1 May 2017
Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram Sarah Harbaugh removes weeds and prunes plants.

— patsy miller photos by bob booth, star-telegram.com, "How does your garden grow?," 26 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prune.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of prune

Middle English, from Anglo-French, plum, from Latin prunum — more at plum

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

prune

verb

Definition of prune

pruned; pruning

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

—

pruner

noun

See prune defined for English-language learners

Examples of prune in a Sentence

She carefully pruned the hedge.
Those trees need to be pruned every year.
The students were asked to prune their essays.
The budget needs to be pruned.

Recent Examples of prune from the Web

Bear attacks near settlements in Japan’s north are increasing as humans stop pruning back trees and maintaining their land.

— alana semuels, The Atlantic, "Can Anything Stop Rural Decline?," 23 Aug. 2017
The Perris anaerobic digester is designed to process pre- and post-consumer food waste, including fats, oils and grease; landscape, pruning and other green waste; and nonhazardous wood waste.

— nicole miller-coleman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Perris facility to meet state’s environmental goals," 29 July 2017
The ideal time to prune is late winter or early spring just before the plant breaks bud.

— dennis patton, kansascity, "Panicle hydrangeas require little maintenance, add big splashes of summer blooms," 29 July 2017
There are, however, definite advantages to pruning fruit trees in August.

— ciscoe morris, The Seattle Times, "Prune fruit trees in August, but don’t get carried away," 26 July 2017
As hair must be pruned, so must flowers and plants.

— sheila marikar, New York Times, "Tiptoeing (and Tweeting) Through the Tulips With DJ Khaled," 6 July 2017
Cunanan's third victim was 75-year-old real-estate tycoon Lee Miglin, whose throat Cunanan slashed with a saw blade as well as stabbing him in the chest with pruning shears, and wrapping his head with tan masking tape.

— marlena scott, Teen Vogue, "Gianni Versace's Murder, Explained," 6 July 2017
In addition to the new police cruisers, money from that $20 million allotment will help the city buy ambulances, waste trucks, tree-pruning vehicles and other vehicles, Jackson said.

— courtney astolfi, cleveland.com, "Cleveland buys 65 new police cars as Justice Department continues to monitor fleet," 5 July 2017
Summer rains have stimulated lots of new growth; perform timely pruning as needed.

— tom maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "July gardening calendar," 1 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of prune

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

prune Synonyms

Synonyms

bob, crop, cut, cut back, dock, lop (off), nip, pare, poll, clip, shave, shear, snip, trim

Related Words

skive, whittle; manicure, mow; pinch, stump; curtail, shorten

Near Antonyms

elongate, extend, lengthen

PRUNE Defined for English Language Learners

prune

play

noun

Definition of prune for English Language Learners

: a dried plum that is often cooked before it is eaten

prune

verb

Definition of prune for English Language Learners

: to cut off some of the branches of (a tree or bush) so that it will grow better or look better
: to reduce (something) by removing parts that are not necessary or wanted