noun
pruning
PROO-nihng
Pruning (noun) means the act of trimming excess branches or growth from a plant. Example: “Autumn is the best time for pruning most fruit trees.”
noun
1
The act of trimming excess branches or growth from a plant.
"Autumn is the best time for pruning most fruit trees."
2
A technique in computing or decision-making that removes unnecessary branches or options to simplify a process.
"The algorithm uses pruning to skip over branches that clearly won't lead to a better result."
How to use pruning
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTrimming away the unnecessary parts of something, whether a plant or a decision tree.
Common pairings
pruning shears
tree pruning
pruning algorithm
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Word forms
- Plural
- prunings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Autumn is the best time for _____ most fruit trees.
Etymology
From prune plus the -ing ending.
Frequently asked questions
What does “pruning” mean?
The word “pruning” means the act of trimming excess branches or growth from a plant. In plain terms, trimming away the unnecessary parts of something, whether a plant or a decision tree.
How do you pronounce “pruning”?
“Pruning” is pronounced PROO-nihng (/ˈpɹuːnɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “pruning” in a sentence?
Here is “pruning” used in a sentence: “Autumn is the best time for pruning most fruit trees.”
What part of speech is “pruning”?
“Pruning” is a noun.
How many meanings does “pruning” have?
“Pruning” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of trimming excess branches or growth from a plant.
