Definition of truncate
truncated
;truncating
transitive verb
1 : to shorten by or as if by cutting off
2 : to replace (an edge or corner of a crystal) by a plane
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Circa 1717
First Known Use of truncate
circa 1717
Other Botany Terms
truncate
Definition of truncate
: having the end square or even truncate leaves
Examples of truncate in a Sentence
a truncated version of the 11 o'clock newscast followed the awards show, which ran over its time slot—as it always does
Did You Know?
Truncate descends from the Latin verb truncare, meaning "to shorten," which in turn can be traced back to the Latin word for the trunk of a tree, which is truncus. Incidentally, if you've guessed that truncus is also the ancestor of the English word trunk, you are correct. Truncus also gave us truncheon, which is the name for a police officer's billy club, and the obscure word obtruncate, meaning "to cut the head or top from."
Origin and Etymology of truncate
Latin truncatus, past participle of truncare to shorten, from truncus trunk
First Known Use: 15th century
TRUNCATE Defined for English Language Learners
truncate
Definition of truncate for English Language Learners
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: to make (something) shorter
Learn More about truncate
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See words that rhyme with truncate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for truncate Spanish Central: Translation of truncate Nglish: Translation of truncate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of truncate for Arabic speakers
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