prune¹ / proōn/ • n. a plum preserved by drying, having a black, wrinkled appearance. ∎ inf. an unpleasant or disagreeable person: he was a good leader, but a miserable old prune.prune² • v. [tr.] trim (a tree, shrub, or bush) by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, esp. to increase fruitfulness and growth. ∎  cut away (a branch or stem) in this way: prune back the branches. ∎  reduce the extent of (something) by removing superfluous or unwanted parts: reduction achieved by working harder or pruning costs. ∎  remove (superfluous or unwanted parts) from something: Elliot deliberately pruned away details.DERIVATIVES: prun·er n.

prune3 lop superfluous growth from. XV. Early forms prouyne, proine, pruine — OF. proignier, earlier prooignier :- Rom. *prōrotundiāre, f. PRO-1 + *rotundiāre cut round, f. rotundus ROUND.

prune2 trim (feathers) with the beak. XIV. ME. pru(y)ne, also proyne — pres. stem poroign — OF. poroindre, f. por- (mod. pour-; :— L. PRO-1) + oindre (:— L. ungere anoint).

prune1 dried fruit of the plum-tree. XIV. — (O)F.:- Rom. *prūna, fem. sg. for L. n. prūna, pl. of prūnum PLUM.