¹prune

noun \ˈprün\

: a dried plum that is often cooked before it is eaten

Full Definition of PRUNE

: a plum dried or capable of drying without fermentation

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Origin of PRUNE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, plum, from Latin prunum — more at plum

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with PRUNE

boon, Boone, coon, croon, dune, goon, June, loon, lune, moon, noon, rune, soon, spoon, swoon, toon, tune

²prune

verb

: to cut off some of the branches of (a tree or bush) so that it will grow better or look better

: to reduce (something) by removing parts that are not necessary or wanted

prunedprun·ing

Full Definition of PRUNE

transitive verb

a : to reduce especially by eliminating superfluous matter <pruned the text> <prune the budget>

b : to remove as superfluous <prune away all ornamentation>

: to cut off or cut back parts of for better shape or more fruitful growth <prune the branches>

intransitive verb

: to cut away what is unwanted or superfluous

— prun·er noun

See prune defined for English-language learners

Origin of PRUNE

Middle English prouynen, probably ultimately from Old French prooignier, alteration of *porrooignier, from por- completely (from Latin pro-) + rooignier to cut, prune, from Vulgar Latin *rotundiare to cut around, from Latin rotundus round — more at pro-, rotund

First Known Use: 15th century