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Definition of prune - 10 dictionary results
Pruning
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prune

1  [proon]
Use prune in a Sentence
–noun
1. a variety of plum that dries without spoiling.
2. such a plum when dried.
3. any plum.
Origin:
1300–50; late ME < MF < L prūna, pl. (taken as fem. sing.) of prūnum plum < Gk proû(m)non plum 1
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prune

2  [proon]
–verb (used with object), pruned, prun⋅ing.
1. to cut or lop off (twigs, branches, or roots).
2. to cut or lop superfluous or undesired twigs, branches, or roots from; trim.
3. to rid or clear of (anything superfluous or undesirable).
4. to remove (anything considered superfluous or undesirable).
Origin:
1400–50; late ME prouynen < MF proognier to prune (vines), var. of provigner, deriv. of provain scion (< L propāgin-, s. of propāgō; see propagate )

Related forms:
prun⋅a⋅ble, adjective
prun⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
pruner, noun

prune

3  [proon]
–verb (used with object), pruned, prun⋅ing.
Archaic. to preen.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME prunen, pruynen, proy(g)nen < OF poroign-, pres. s. of poroindre, equiv. to por- (< L pro- pro- 1 ) + oindre to anoint (< L unguere); see preen 1

Related forms:
prun⋅a⋅ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To prune
prune 1   (prōōn)   
n.  

    1. The partially dried fruit of any of several varieties of the common plum, Prunus domestica.

    2. Any kind of plum that can be dried without spoiling.

  2. Slang An ill-tempered, stupid, or incompetent person.

intr.v.   pruned, prun·ing, prunes Slang
To make a facial expression exhibiting ill temper or disgust: "Their faces prune at the slightest provocation" (James Wolcott).

[Middle English, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *prūna, from Latin prūnum, plum.]
prune 2   (prōōn)   
v.   pruned, prun·ing, prunes

v.   tr.

  1. To cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of (a plant, for example) to improve shape or growth.

  2. To remove or cut out as superfluous.

  3. To reduce: prune a budget.

v.   intr.
To remove what is superfluous or undesirable.

[Middle English prouinen, from Old French proignier, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *prōretundiāre : Latin prō-, in front; see pro-1 + Latin rotundus, round (from rota, wheel; see ret- in Indo-European roots).]
prun'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Main Entry:  prune
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  See dried plum
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
Copyright © 2003-2009 Dictionary.com, LLC
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Word Origin & History

prune  (n.)
1345, from O.Fr. pronne "plum" (13c.), from V.L. *pruna, fem. sing. formed from L. pruna, neut. pl. of prunum "plum," by dissimilation from Gk. proumnon, from a language of Asia Minor. Slang meaning "disagreeable or disliked person" is from 1895.

prune  (v.)
1426, prouyne, from O.Fr. proignier "cut back (vines), prune," of unknown origin, perhaps from Gallo-Romance *pro-retundiare "cut in a rounded shape in front," from pro- "forth" + *retundiare "round off," from L. rotundus (see round). The M.E. word may be via falconry term proinen "trim the feather with the beak" (1390), Related to preen (q.v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: prune
Pronunciation: 'prün
Function: noun
: a plum dried or capable of drying without fermentation and often used as a food and as a mildlaxative
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

prune

see full of beans, def. 2.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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