I. ˈprün noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin pruna, from Latin, plural of prunum plum — more at plum
1. : a plum that is capable of being dried or that has been dried without the development of fermentation even though the pit is not removed from the fruit and that when fresh is typically a moderate sized fruit with firm dark blue pruinose skin and a rather solid somewhat bland pulp
2. : a variable color averaging a dark purple that is redder and duller than mulberry, mulberry purple, or plum and less strong and slightly redder than prune purple
3. : a dull, unattractive, or stupid person
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English proinen, preinen, prunen
archaic : preen
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English prouynen, from Middle French proignier, proognier, probably alteration of provigner to layer — more at provine
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cut down or reduce (as a literary composition) by eliminating what is useless, burdensome, or superfluous
prune an essay
a severely pruned style
pruned of its redundancies — Samuel Butler †1902
b. : to remove (something) as superfluous
prune away all ornamentation
c. : to cut back or reduce (as a budget) : retrench
the drive to prune appropriations — Gardner Patterson & J.N.Behrman
2. : to lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of (a plant) for better shaped or more fruitful growth : shape or smooth by trimming : trim
pruned all the trees along the boulevard
vines were pruned — Experiment Station Record
3. : to cut off or cut out (as dead branches from a rosebush) — see root-prune
intransitive verb
: to cut away what is superfluous or excessive
selfishness plants best, prunes best — R.W.Emerson
the best time to prune