prune

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

prune [prune prunes pruned pruning] noun, verb BrE [pruːn] NAmE [pruːn]
noun
a dried ↑plum that is often eaten cooked
•stewed prunes

Word Origin:
n. Middle English Old French Latin Greek prou(m)non ‘plum’ v. late 15th cent. ‘abbreviate’ Old French pro(o)ignier Latin rotundus ‘round’
Derived Word: ↑pruning
 
verb
1. to cut off some of the branches from a tree, bush, etc. so that it will grow better and stronger
•~ sth When should you prune apple trees?
•He pruned the longer branches off the tree.
•~ sth back The hedge needs pruning back.
2. ~ sth (back) to make sth smaller by removing parts; to cut out parts of sth
•Staff numbers have been pruned back to 175.
•The railway companies have pruned their timetables (= there are fewer trains).
•Prune out any unnecessary details.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
n. Middle English Old French Latin Greek prou(m)non ‘plum’ v. late 15th cent. ‘abbreviate’ Old French pro(o)ignier Latin rotundus ‘round’

Example Bank:
•Prune the trees hard in the winter.
•The roses had been pruned back more severely.
•Their budgets have been drastically pruned.

 

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  cut, rationalize, rationalise, snip, clip, crop, trim, lop, dress, cut back