noun
prune
proon
Prune (noun) means a dried plum. Example: “She added a handful of prunes to the oatmeal.”
noun
1
A dried plum.
"She added a handful of prunes to the oatmeal."
verb
1
To cut back branches from a tree or shrub to keep it healthy or shaped.
"He pruned the rose bushes back in early spring."
"The gardener pruned the hedge into a neat rectangle."
2
To remove unnecessary or excess parts from something, such as text, data, or a list.
"The editor pruned the report down to just the essential points."
3
To become wrinkled, as skin does after being in water too long.
"Her fingers had pruned after the long bath."
How to use prune
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a dried plum, or the act of trimming away excess (branches, text, wrinkled fingers).
Common pairings
prune a tree
prune the list
fingers prune up
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Word forms
- Plural
- prunes
- Third person singular
- prunes
- Past tense
- pruned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She added a handful of _____ to the oatmeal.
Etymology
From Old French prune, from Vulgar Latin *pruna, ultimately from Ancient Greek proumnon, "plum" — prune and plum are actually the same word, borrowed at different times.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for prune
See all rhymes for prune →Frequently asked questions
What does “prune” mean?
The word “prune” means a dried plum. In plain terms, either a dried plum, or the act of trimming away excess (branches, text, wrinkled fingers).
How do you pronounce “prune”?
“Prune” is pronounced proon (/pɹun/ in IPA).
How do you use “prune” in a sentence?
Here is “prune” used in a sentence: “She added a handful of prunes to the oatmeal.”
What is another word for “prune”?
Words with a similar meaning to “prune” include old woman.
What part of speech is “prune”?
Depending on how it is used, “prune” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “prune” come from?
The word “prune” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French prune, from Vulgar Latin *pruna, ultimately from Ancient Greek proumnon, "plum" — prune and plum are actually the same word, borrowed at different times.
How many meanings does “prune” have?
“Prune” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dried plum.
