Prune /(?)/

Prune

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Pruned; p. pr. & vb. n. Pruning

  1. To lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of; to clear of useless material; to shape or smooth by trimming; to trim: as, to prune trees; to prune an essay.
    Taking into consideration how they [laws] are to be pruned and reformed.
    Our delightful task To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers.
  2. To cut off or cut out, as useless parts.
    Horace will our superfluous branches prune.
  3. To preen; to prepare; to dress.
    His royal bird Prunes the immortal wing and cloys his beak.

Prune

v. i.
  1. To dress; to prink; -used humorously or in contempt.

Prune

n.
  1. A plum; esp., a dried plum, used in cookery; as, French or Turkish prunes; California prunes.

Phrases & Compounds
German prune
a large dark purple plum, of oval shape, often one-sided. It is much used for preserving, either dried or in sirup.
Prune tree
A tree of the genus Prunus (Prunus domestica), which produces prunes.
South African prune
the edible fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Pappea Capensis).