PRUNING
pruning
(noun) the act of trimming a plant
pruning
(noun) something that has been pruned off of a plant
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Noun
pruning (countable and uncountable, plural prunings)
A removal of excess material from a tree or shrub.
(countable) Something obtained by pruning, as a twig.
(computer science) A method of enumeration that allows the cutting out of parts of a decision tree.
Verb
pruning
present participle of prune
Source: Wiktionary
Prun"ing, n.
1. The act of trimming, or removing what is superfluous.
2. (Falconry)
Definition: That which is cast off by bird in pruning her feathers; leavings. Beau. & Fl. Pruning hook, or Pruning knife, cutting instrument used in pruning trees, etc.
– Pruning shears, shears for pruning trees, vines, etc.
PRUNE
Prune, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pruned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pruning.] Etym: [OE. proine, probably fr. F. provigner to lay down vine stocks for propagation; hence, probably, the meaning, to cut away superfluous shoots. See Provine.]
1. To lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of; to clear of useless material; to shape or smooth by trimming; to trim: as, to prune trees; to prune an essay. Thackeray. Taking into consideration how they [laws] are to be pruned and reformed. Bacon. Our delightful task To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers. Milton.
2. To cut off or cut out, as useless parts. Horace will our superfluous branches prune. Waller.
3. To preen; to prepare; to dress. Spenser. His royal bird Prunes the immortal wing and cloys his beak. Shak.
Prune, v. i.
Definition: To dress; to prink; -used humorously or in contempt. Dryden.
Prune, n. Etym: [F. prune, from L. prunum a plum. See Plum.]
Definition: A plum; esp., a dried plum, used in cookery; as, French or Turkish prunes; California prunes. German prune (Bot.), a large dark purple plum, of oval shape, often one-sided. It is much used for preserving, either dried or in sirup. Prune tree. (Bot.) (a) A tree of the genus Prunus (P. domestica), which produces prunes. (b) The West Indian tree, Prunus occidentalis.
– South African prune (Bot.), the edible fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Pappea Capensis).
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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Word of the Day
1 February 2025
GRIP
(noun) an intellectual hold or understanding; “a good grip on French history”; “they kept a firm grip on the two top priorities”; “he was in the grip of a powerful emotion”; “a terrible power had her in its grasp”
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