pruning

[ proo-ning ]

noun

1. the act or practice of cutting or lopping off undesired twigs, branches, or roots:

   Some pruning of your tea roses during the summer is useful to encourage growth and flowers.

2. the act or practice of getting rid of undesirable elements or excess:

   You can do this pruning of emails for an hour a day till you're down to an empty inbox.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pruning¹

First recorded in 1540–50; prun(e) ²( def ) + -ing ¹( def )

Example Sentences

"Cannabis appears to disrupt the brain's natural process of refining and pruning synapses, which is essential for healthy brain development."

From Science Daily

They found that most homes in the town had defensible space, thanks to pruning done by owners.

From Los Angeles Times

As I felt when I saw this revival on Broadway, Furth’s book might have benefited from some judicious pruning.

From Los Angeles Times

Jacaranda trees usually bloom by June, but they may flower at any time of year depending on conditions such as light, heat, rain or pruning.

From Los Angeles Times

They can get their hands dirty with more advanced stuff like pruning and composting.

From Seattle Times