prune

plural prunes · alternative obsolete proin

1. obsoleteA plum.
2. The dried, wrinkled fruit of certain species of plum.
3. figurativelySomething wrinkly like a prune.

   1 more example

   We are not free when we are in the grip of the false conditioning that decrees that we need sex. We are not free if we believe the culture's ominous warnings that we will become "horny" (what a callous, offensive word) and frustrated and neurotic and finally shrivel up into prunes and have to abandon hope of being good, creative, effective people.

   1970, Dana Densmore, “Without You And Within You”, in No More Fun & Games, volume 4, page 55

4. slangAn old woman, especially a wrinkly one.

present singular third person prunes · participle present pruning · participle past pruned · past pruned · alternative obsolete proin

1. informalintransitiveTo become wrinkled like a dried plum, as the fingers and toes do when kept submerged in water.

   I hardly left that spot in my pool that month even when my fingers pruned and chlorine dried out my skin.

   2005, Alycia Ripley, Traveling with an Eggplant, page 111

present singular third person prunes · participle present pruning · participle past pruned · past pruned · alternative obsolete proin

1. transitiveagricultureTo remove excess material from a tree or shrub; to trim, especially to make more healthy or productive.

   A good grape grower will prune the vines once a year.

   2 more examples

   But poore old man, thou prun'ſt a rotten tree, / That cannot ſo much as a bloſſome yeelde

   c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], page 191

   Our delightful task / To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers.

   1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

2. figurativelytransitiveTo cut down or shorten (by the removal of unnecessary material).

   to prune a budget, or an essay

   1 more example

   taking into consideration how they [laws] are to be pruned and reformed

   1605, Francis Bacon, “(please specify |book=1 or 2)”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC

3. transitiveTo remove (something unnecessary) for the sake of cutting down or shortening that which it was previously part of.

   When internal dissension and a decline in popularity set in, Johnny was pruned from the Crests.

   1990, Wayne Jancik, The Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders, →ISBN, page 229

4. InternettransitiveTo remove participation status from or contributed material attributed to users usually deemed inactive or undesirable from an interactive computer service or website for the sake of housekeeping.
5. transitivecomputerTo remove unnecessary branches from a tree data structure.
6. obsoletefalconryTo trim the feathers with the beak.
7. obsoleteTo preen; to prepare; to dress.

   She gins her feathers fowle disfigured Prowdly to prune, and sett on every side.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto III”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   1 more example

   For 'tis observed of every scribbling man, / He grows a fop as fast as e'er he can; / Prunes up, and asks his oracle, the glass, / If pink or purple best become his face.

   1677 (first performance), John Dryden, “Epilogue”, in All for Love: Or, The World Well Lost. A Tragedy, […], [London]: […] Tho[mas] Newcomb, for Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC