Prune
/pruːn/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo trim a plant by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, or to remove something that is considered unnecessary or undesirable.
/pruːn/
To trim or cut away unwanted parts.
She carefully pruned the dead leaves from the tomato plants.
💡 Simply: It's like giving a haircut to a plant or tree! You cut off the old, dead parts to help it grow better. You also use it to describe cutting out extra stuff, like when a company prunes its budget to save money.
👶 For kids: To cut off extra parts of a plant to help it grow better, like a haircut for a plant!
More Examples
The company was forced to prune its workforce due to financial difficulties.
The gardener is pruning the roses this afternoon.
How It's Used
"I need to prune the rose bushes before winter."
"The company pruned its budget to reduce costs."
"The surgeon decided to prune the damaged tissue."
A dried plum, often eaten as a snack or used in cooking.
/pruːn/
A dried plum.
She always kept a box of prunes in the pantry.
💡 Simply: A prune is just a dried-up plum, like raisins are dried grapes. People eat them as a snack or put them in recipes.
👶 For kids: A prune is a dried-up plum! You can eat it like a snack.
More Examples
Prunes are high in fiber and can help with digestion.
The recipe called for a cup of prunes.
How It's Used
"She added prunes to her oatmeal for breakfast."
"Prunes are a good source of fiber."
From Middle English *proune*, from Old French *proigne*, from Latin *prūnum* 'plum'. The verb's usage for trimming comes from the practice of cutting off branches of trees to improve fruit production.
The verb form, referring to trimming plants, appears in the 14th century.
Memory tip
Imagine a plant suffering from too many branches. You prune the plant to make it healthier and productive.
Word Origin
"plum"