prune
noun
\
Definition of prune
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a plum dried or capable of drying without fermentation
prune
verbDefinition of prune (Entry 2 of 2)
1a : 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
: to cut away what is unwanted or superfluous
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Synonyms for prune
Synonyms: Verb
bob, clip, crop, cut, cut back, dock, lop (off), nip, pare, poll, shave, shear, snip, trim
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Examples of prune in a Sentence
Verb
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 on the Web: Noun
The prunes were a lo-fi addition to a roster of gut health aids that included fiber cubes from France, herbal teas, and various drugstore stimulants. — Julie Schott, The Cut, "If You Want Clear Skin, Look at Your Poop," 19 Mar. 2018 There are white pails full of glistening fillings, poppy seed and prune, strawberry and apricot, even bowls full of chocolate chips. — Lynn Ischay, cleveland.com, "Hamantaschen adds sweetness to Purim celebrations (photos)," 28 Feb. 2018 Drain the prunes, blot dry with paper towels, chop them, and set aside. — Adam Ried, BostonGlobe.com, "Recipes: Switch it up with lamb burgers instead of beef," 13 July 2018 The real nutritious surprise is what’s inside: prunes. — Patricia Bannan, Fox News, "10 desserts you won't believe are actually healthy," 8 Mar. 2018 Taking a fiber supplement or drinking a glass of prune juice can also help. — New York Times, "4 Simple Tips to Stay Healthy on Your Next Trip," 7 June 2018 The chocolate tart’s brownie-like texture was touched with smoke and the earthy kiss of beet-prune jam. — Craig Laban, Philly.com, "At Cadence, bold new culinary talents cook with the seasons," 1 June 2018 As the plant matures, prune to eliminate scraggly stems. — Arricca Sansone, Country Living, "How to Grow Clematis," 24 May 2018 There’s much more to Lodi than heavy, over-oaked Zinfandel that tastes like prunes or raisins. — Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, "Tasting notes: The diverse, dynamic wines of Lodi," 20 May 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Helleckson surveys the bare branches he’s been pruning. — Zack Colman, Scientific American, "A Trump Oil Boom Could Transform This Rocky Mountain Landscape," 13 July 2018 Keep dead branches regularly pruned out of fruit trees, shade trees and shrubs. — Dan Gill, NOLA.com, "How to keep insects, weeds and diseases out of your South Louisiana garden," 24 May 2018 That’s a luxury Trump doesn’t have, going into a midterm election where his party needs every vote — including from workers, farmers, and executives whose earnings are being pruned by this trade war. — Evan Horowitz, BostonGlobe.com, "There are no bullets or bombs, but trade wars have real casualties," 6 July 2018 If these yellow behemoths are taking over your property, now is a good time to prune them into a more reasonable size. — Sally Mccabe, Philly.com, "May 18-24: In the garden, it's time…," 18 May 2018 Blueberry bushes should be pruned at the time of transplanting to your container. — Stan Davidson, Sun-Sentinel.com, "With patience, blueberries can be grown in containers," 10 July 2018 Dogged by the same competitive fears plaguing all of retail, the stock declined in 2016, 2017 and again this year, with about $38 billion pruned from its market value since its 2015 high. — chicagotribune.com, "Walgreens is what you get when you can't put Amazon in the Dow," 21 June 2018 If the trunk stays leafless, should it be pruned down? — Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, "Garden Q&A: How to keep lace bugs from turning your plants yellow," 17 May 2018 Do not be afraid to give your plants a severe pruning every three to four years to renew their vigor and blooms. — Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Timely pruning renews azaleas' vigor and blooms," 28 Apr. 2018These 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.
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More Definitions for prune
prune
noun
English Language Learners Definition of prune
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a dried plum that is often cooked before it is eaten
prune
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of prune (Entry 2 of 2)
: 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
See the full definition for prune in the English Language Learners Dictionary
prune
noun
\
Kids Definition of prune
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a dried plum
prune
verbKids Definition of prune (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : to cut off dead or unwanted parts of a bush or tree
2 : to cut out useless or unwanted parts (as unnecessary words in something written)
prune
noun
\
Medical Definition of prune
: a plum dried or capable of drying without fermentation and often used as a food and as a mild laxative
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