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truncate
[ truhng-keyt ]
verb (used with object)
- to shorten by cutting off a part; cut short:
Truncate detailed explanations.
Synonyms: abbreviate, curtail, trim, abridge
- Mathematics, Computers. to shorten (a number) by dropping a digit or digits:
The numbers 1.4142 and 1.4987 can both be truncated to 1.4.
adjective
- Biology.
- square or broad at the end, as if cut off transversely.
- lacking the apex, as certain spiral shells.
truncate
verb
- tr to shorten by cutting off a part, end, or top
adjective
- cut short; truncated
- biology having a blunt end, as though cut off at the tip
a truncate leaf
Derived Forms
- trunˈcation, noun
- trunˈcately, adverb
Other Words From
- truncate·ly adverb
- sub·truncate adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of truncate1
Example Sentences
While one viewer took to X/Twitter to credit "Salem's Lot"'s "effective moments" and sense of "camp," they ultimately concluded that "the story is simply too rushed and truncated to work well."
The rapper’s allegations include breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment and refusal to permit an audit of the Fugees’ tour — a road show that the group truncated stateside due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
There are noteworthy parallels between that contest and the truncated race for president.
Not least are the advantages enjoyed by both Schwarzenegger and Harris as a result of the drastically truncated campaigns they dived into.
Stand-in captain Ollie Pope answered his critics with a sparkling century on a truncated first day of England's third Test against Sri Lanka at The Kia Oval.
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Related Words
More About Truncate
What does truncate mean?
Truncate means to shorten something by removing part of it.
You can truncate something by removing the beginning of it, the end of it, the top of it, or another part of it. In scientific and medical contexts, truncating often involves cutting off a part of something in a way that’s parallel to its base (or perpendicular to its side).
In the context of math, to truncate is to shorten a number by dropping some of the digits after the decimal place. For example, 1.524 can be truncated to 1.5.
Less commonly, truncate can be used as an adjective with the same meaning as truncated—shortened, as if having had a portion cut off.
Example: When they originally released the movie, they truncated the ending, but they’re planning to release the full version soon.
Where does truncate come from?
The first records of the word truncate come from the late 1400s. It comes from the Latin verb truncāre, “to lop” or “to cut off.” Truncāre comes from the Latin truncus, which means “stem,” “stump,” or “trunk,” and is also the basis of the word trunk, as in the trunk of a tree.
You can truncate a trunk of a tree by chopping it down to the stump, but truncate isn’t commonly applied to physical things. It’s most often used to refer to shortening intangible things, such as a schedule or a piece of writing, as in This last part is a bit long, so we’ll have to truncate it to stay within the word count.
As an adjective, truncate is used in a more specialized way in biology, in which it’s used to describe a part of an organism, such as the leaf of a plant, that looks like it has been cut off at the tip. The word truncated can also be used to describe the same thing.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to truncate?
- truncated (past tense verb, adjective)
- truncation (noun)
- truncately (adverb)
What are some synonyms for truncate?
What are some words that share a root or word element with truncate?
What are some words that often get used in discussing truncate?
How is truncate used in real life?
Truncate can be used in all kinds of contexts, but it’s most often applied to intangible things.
Dear @ABCPolitics,
No one wants to watch another debate between 10 people where responses are truncated to 60 second sound bites. Please split up the debates to two groups of 5 even if no one else qualities.
Sincerely, Everyone.
— Ross 🍎 (@RossVarner) August 22, 2019
This article is about how truncating vs rounding is a CHOICE, and one that can lead to better or worse results, depending on what you want
Yeah sure I'll always prefer truncating (so "2+2=4" is always true) if I'm buying the meat being weighed
Not so much if I'm selling it
— Arthur Chu (@arthur_affect) August 1, 2020
@JasonHirschhorn @pmarca 140 character limit forces us to truncate thoughts efficiently rather than type for hours (like on Medium/Facebook)
— Nick Abouzeid (@nickabouzeid) September 3, 2015
Try using truncate!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of truncate?
A. abridge
B. abbreviate
C. protract
D. shorten
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