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Definition of prune - 13 dictionary results
prune
1
[proon] 
–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
1300–50; late ME < MF < L prūna, pl. (taken as fem. sing.) of prūnum plum < Gk proû(m)non plum 1
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 )
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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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|
Link To prune
| prune 1 (prōōn) n.
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.
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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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 |
Language Translation for : prune
Spanish:
podar,
German:
beschneiden,
Japanese:
刈り込む
Prune
Prune\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pruned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pruning.] [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
Prune\, v. i. To dress; to prink; -used humorously or in contempt. --Dryden.Prune
Prune\, n. [F. prune, from L. prunum a plum. See Plum.] 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).
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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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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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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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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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
