PRUNINGS

Noun

prunings

plural of pruning

Anagrams

• ringspun, spurning

Source: Wiktionary


PRUNING

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

4 February 2025

DISKETTE

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Coffee Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.

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