1. n.1 a dried plum.
2 colloq. a silly or disliked person.
Etymology: ME f. OF ult. f. L prunum f. Gk prou(m)non plum 2. v.tr.
1. a (often foll. by down) trim (a tree etc.) by cutting away dead or overgrown branches etc. b (usu. foll. by off, away) lop (branches etc.) from a tree.
2 reduce (costs etc.) (must try to prune expenses).
3 a (often foll. by of) clear (a book etc.) of superfluities. b remove (superfluities).
Phrases and idioms:
pruning-hook a long-handled hooked cutting tool used for pruning.
Derivatives:
pruner n.
Etymology: ME prouyne f. OF pro(o)ignier ult. f. L rotundus ROUND