4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Prune  \Prune\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Pruned};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Pruning}.]  [OE.  proine,  probably  fr  F.  provigner  to  lay 
  down  vine  stocks  for  propagation;  hence  probably,  the 
  meaning,  to  cut  away  superfluous  shoots.  See  {Provine}.] 
  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.  --Thackeray. 
 
  Taking  into  consideration  how  they  [laws]  are  to  be 
  pruned  and  reformed.  --Bacon. 
 
  Our  delightful  task  To  prune  these  growing  plants, 
  and  tend  these  flowers.  --Milton. 
 
  2.  To  cut  off  or  cut  out  as  useless  parts 
 
  Horace  will  our  superfluous  branches  prune. 
  --Waller. 
 
  3.  To  preen;  to  prepare;  to  dress.  --Spenser. 
 
  His  royal  bird  Prunes  the  immortal  wing  and  cloys 
  his  beak.  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Prune  \Prune\,  v.  i. 
  To  dress;  to  prink;  -used  humorously  or  in  contempt. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Prune  \Prune\,  n.  [F.  prune,  from  L.  prunum  a  plum.  See  {Plum}.] 
  A  plum;  esp.,  a  dried  plum,  used  in  cookery;  as  French  or 
  Turkish  prunes;  California  prunes. 
 
  {German  prune}  (Bot.),  a  large  dark  purple  plum,  of  oval 
  shape,  often  one-sided.  It  is  much  used  for  preserving, 
  either  dried  or  in  sirup. 
 
  {Prune  tree}.  (Bot.) 
  a  A  tree  of  the  genus  {Prunus}  ({P.  domestica}),  which 
  produces  prunes. 
  b  The  West  Indian  tree,  {Prunus  occidentalis}. 
 
  {South  African  prune}  (Bot.),  the  edible  fruit  of  a 
  sapindaceous  tree  ({Pappea  Capensis}). 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  prune 
  n  :  dried  plum 
  v  1:  cut  back  the  growth  of  of  bushes  and  trees  [syn:  {snip},  {clip}, 
  {crop},  {trim},  {lop},  {dress},  {cut  back}] 
  2:  weed  out  unwanted  or  unnecessary  things  "We  had  to  lose 
  weight,  so  we  cut  the  sugar  from  our  diet"  [syn:  {cut},  {rationalize}] 

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