- 1to cut off some of the branches from a tree, bush, etc. so that it will grow better and stronger prune something When should you prune apple trees? He pruned the longer branches off the tree. prune something back The hedge needs pruning back.
- 2prune something (back) to make something smaller by removing parts; to cut out parts of something Staff numbers have been pruned back to 175. The railroad companies have pruned their schedules (= there are fewer trains). Prune out any unnecessary details.
prune
verbNAmE//prun//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they prune he / she / it prunes
past simple pruned
-ing form pruning
noun [uncountable] All roses require annual pruning. The company would benefit from a little pruning here and there.See prune in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: prune