Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The act of trimming or lopping off what is superfluous; specifically, the act of cutting off branches or parts of trees and shrubs with a view to the strengthening of those that remain, or to the bringing of the tree or plant into a desired shape.
- noun In falconry, what is cast off by a bird when it prunes itself; hence, refuse.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The act of trimming, or removing what is superfluous.
- noun (Falconry) That which is cast off by bird in pruning her feathers; leavings.
- noun cutting instrument used in pruning trees, etc.
- noun shears for pruning trees, vines, etc.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
removal of excess material from a tree or shrub. - noun countable Something obtained by pruning, as a
twig . - noun computer science A method of
enumeration that allows the cutting out of parts of adecision tree . - verb Present participle of
prune .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the act of trimming a plant
- noun something that has been pruned off of a plant
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word pruning.
Examples
-
The other operations of gardening are pruning and training, and, as I have already spoken of these when treating of the different trees, I have only to add here that the great art in pruning is to give a clean sloping cut without bruising the bark, as nature will make an effort to cover the wound if the edges of the bark are left in a healthy state.
The Lady's Country Companion: or, How to Enjoy a Country Life Rationally Jane 1845
-
Begin pruning your fears of standing out and speaking in public.
Adele Scheele: How to Take More Risk and Advance Your Career in 6 Steps Adele Scheele 2010
-
After a severe plucking pruning from the knight, once again she skipped forth through the enchanted forest.
-
What's shocking to many people is that scientific research is beginning to reveal the utter lack of necessity for most of the one-sided surgery we call pruning.
Linda Buzzell: The Zen of Pruning Linda Buzzell 2012
-
Sometimes they must be pruned, and the pruning is painful.
2009 December 2009
-
Begin pruning your fears of standing out and speaking in public.
Adele Scheele: How to Take More Risk and Advance Your Career in 6 Steps Adele Scheele 2010
-
It came in about 200 words over the limit, so some pruning is required.
-
Begin pruning your fears of standing out and speaking in public.
Adele Scheele: How to Take More Risk and Advance Your Career in 6 Steps Adele Scheele 2010
-
Begin pruning your fears of standing out and speaking in public.
Adele Scheele: How to Take More Risk and Advance Your Career in 6 Steps Adele Scheele 2010
-
Sometimes they must be pruned, and the pruning is painful.
Swarms are messy. 2009
bilby commented on the word pruning
In the movie about Alfred Hitchcock, Alma says 'You're pruning' to him when he's been sitting in the bathtub for ages.
December 15, 2015