prune¹ Definition
prune (pro̵̅o̅n)
noun
- a plum dried for eating
- any of various varieties of plum that can be dried without spoiling
- ☆ Slang a dull or otherwise unpleasant person
Etymology: ME < MFr < VL pruna < L prunum < Gr proumnon, plum
prune² Definition
prune (pro̵̅o̅n)
transitive verb pruned, prun′·ing
- to remove dead or living parts from (a plant) so as to increase fruit or flower production or improve the form
- to cut out or get rid of as being unnecessary
- to reduce or diminish by removing what is unnecessary
Etymology: ME prouynen < OFr prooignier, prob. < provaignier, to cut < provain (< L propago: see propagate), a slip, infl. by rooignier, to cut off < LL *rotundiare < L rotundus, round: see rotund
intransitive verb
to cut away or remove unnecessary parts
prune² Related Forms
prune³ Definition
prune (pro̵̅o̅n)
transitive verb, intransitive verb pruned, prun′·ing
Archaic to preen or dress up
Etymology: ME proinen < OFr poroindre < por- (for pro-) + oindre (< L ungere), to anoint
prune Synonyms
prune
n.
Varieties of prunes include: French, Stanley, Italian-Fellemberg, St. Julien, myrobalan, Bosnian;
prune Synonyms
prune Usage Examples
Object
- saw: Click here for more details on the Gerber folding pruning saw or just add to cart to buy online now.
- shear: Now is the time to take the same pruning shears to the agenda.
- rose: He never writes in the mornings: " Those are spent worrying about the bills and pruning the roses.
- clematis: Pruning clematis often causes uncertainty, as there are different groups of this popular climber, each with its own requirements.
- shrub: Early in the month prune the shrubs that produce their best show on vigorous new wood.
- vine: To avoid ' bleeding ' , do not prune the vine later than December.
Modifying Another Word
- ruthlessly: And the only way to fund these would be by ruthlessly pruning the existing staff.
- lightly: In the first spring, lightly prune the main stems, in their second spring reduce the previous season's growth by half.
- annually: Pruning - Climbers usually require pruning annually to improve their flowering.
- heavily: Languages like java are designed to give you a heavily pruned search space.
- regularly: Plants pruned regularly can last more than 100 years.
- twice: Both are useful for creating privacy in new gardens, however, provided they are pruned rigorously twice a year.
Used with why or when
where: The plant preparation for the show began last autumn, with all the plants being repotted and pruned where necessary.
Infinitive complement
- remove: This area will be pruned to remove dormant files.
- keep: Prune older box from March to the summer solstice, after which you should only prune lightly to keep the shape.
- encourage: Once established prune to encourage the formation of flowering spurs, close to the main framework of the plant.
Preposition: in
- autumn: The exception to this general rule are herbaceous clematis which should be hard pruned in the autumn or late February irrespective of age.
- winter: From Chris, UK Myrtles bloom on the current season's wood, which means they should be pruned in late winter.
- summer: However, certain species should be pruned in the summer, for example Cherry.
Preposition: of
tree: Pruning of plum trees depends on the form wanted - pyramid, bush, standard or half standard.
Browse dictionary entries near prune
- ‹ pruinose
- ‹ prudish
- ‹ Prudhoe Bay
- ‹ prudery
- ‹ prudential
- ‹ prudent-man rule
- ‹ prudent
- ‹ prudence
- ‹ prude
- ‹ Prozac
- prunella ›
- pruning hook ›
- prunus ›
- prurient ›
- prurigo ›
- pruritus ›
- Prus ›
- Prussia ›
- Prussian ›
- Prussian blue ›

