| prune | 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. "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. "His royal bird Prunes the immortal wing and cloys his beak." (Shak) Origin: OE. Proine, probably fr. F. Provigner to lay down vine stocks for propagation; hence, probably, the meaning, to cut away superfluous shoots. See Provine. A plum; especially, a dried plum, used in cookery; as, French or Turkish prunes; California prunes. <botany> German prune, the edible fruit of a sapindaceous tree (Pappea Capensis). Origin: F. Prune, from L. Prunum a plum. See Plum. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| prune belly | See: abdominal muscle deficiency syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| prune belly syndrome | <radiology> Absent abdominal musculature, undescended testes, dilated ureters and calyces, clubbed feet, heart and lung abnormalities, predominantly in males Synonym: Eagle-Barrett syndrome (12 Dec 1998) |
| prune-juice expectoration | A thin reddish expectoration, characteristic of necrosis of lung tissue, usually by infection; due to haemorrhage caused by destruction of the lung parenchyma; sometimes seen with lung tumours. Synonym: prune-juice expectoration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| prune-juice sputum | A thin reddish expectoration, characteristic of necrosis of lung tissue, usually by infection; due to haemorrhage caused by destruction of the lung parenchyma; sometimes seen with lung tumours. Synonym: prune-juice expectoration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| prunella | <medicine> Angina, or angina pectoris. <chemistry> Prunella salt, niter fused and cast into little balls. Origin: NL, perhaps from G. Braeune quinsy, croup. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| prunelle | A kind of small and very acid French plum; applied especially to the stoned and dried fruit. Origin: F, dim. Of prune. See Prune. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| pruner | 1. One who prunes, or removes, what is superfluous. 2. <zoology> Any one of several species of beetles whose larvae gnaw the branches of trees so as to cause them to fall, especially the American oak pruner (Asemum moestum), whose larva eats the pith of oak branches, and when mature gnaws a circular furrow on the inside nearly to the bark. When the branches fall each contains a pupa. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |