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   prune

   /pruːn/

   verb

   • 1. trim (a tree, shrub, or bush) by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, especially to encourage growth: "now is the time to prune roses" Similar cut backtrimthinthin outpinch backcropclipshearpollardtopdockshapeeven upneatentidy (up)
   • ▪ cut away (a branch or stem) from a tree, shrub, etc.: "prune back the branches" Similar cut offlop (off)chop offhack offclipsnip (off)nip offdockseverdetachremove
   • ▪ reduce the extent of (something) by removing superfluous or unwanted parts: "the workforce was pruned" Similar reducecutcut backcut downcut back onparepare downslim downmake reductions inmake cutbacks intrimwhittle away/downsalami-slicedecreasediminishaxeshrinkminimizeeliminateget rid ofdo away withinformal:slash
   • ▪ remove (superfluous or unwanted parts) from something: "Eliot deliberately pruned away details"

   noun

   • 1. an instance of trimming a tree, shrub, or bush: "they need little care other than an annual prune"

   Word Origin late 15th century (in the sense ‘abbreviate’): from Old French pro(o)ignier, possibly based on Latin rotundus ‘round’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. pruner noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • P

     3

   • R

     1

   • U

     1

   • N

     1

   • E

     1

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