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# prune

noun (a prune, prunes); verb (prune, prunes, pruned, pruning)

«prune» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A prune is a dried plum, dark and wrinkly, eaten as a snack or cooked. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prune/#m1)
2. (verb) To prune a tree or bush is to cut off some branches so it grows better. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prune/#m2)
3. (verb) To prune something is to cut out parts you do not need, such as words in a story. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prune/#m3)

### In the lessons

In gardening and science lessons pruning helps plants grow healthy; in everyday life prunes are a food said to help digestion; in English lessons pupils prune long sentences. Phrases: prune the roses, prune juice, fingers like prunes.

### Examples

- Grandpa likes prunes with his breakfast. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prune/#x1)
- We pruned the apple tree in winter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prune/#x2)
- Prunes are dried plums. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prune/#x3)
- After the bath my fingers looked like prunes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prune/#x4)
- Prune your story so it is not too long. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prune/#x5)
- Dad pruned the hedge with shears. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prune/#x6)

### Note

Countable for the fruit (prunes). Verb past form: pruned. In some languages «prune» means a fresh plum (French «prune»); in English it is a dried one — a false friend.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means to trim vines so they grow better. It is allowed in six years but forbidden in the seventh. The prophets mention "pruning-hooks," the tools used, and an unpruned vineyard is a picture of a land left waste.

**Interpretation.** Tradition says the land rests in the seventh year, called the Sabbatical year or shmitta. In Isaiah and Joel pruning-hooks stand for peace, and beating them into spears means war; the tradition looks forward to the reverse in the days of the Messiah.

### Examples

- Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the produce thereof. (Torah LEV.25.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/prune/#x1)
- But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath unto the LORD; thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. (Torah LEV.25.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/prune/#x2)
- Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears; let the weak say: 'I am strong.' (Prophets JOL.4.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/prune/#x3)
- And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned nor hoed, but there shall come up briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. (Prophets ISA.5.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/prune/#x4)
- For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the bud becometh a ripening grape, He will cut off the sprigs with pruning-hooks, and the shoots will He take away and lop off. (Prophets ISA.18.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/prune/#x5)

### Note

Countable for the fruit (prunes). Verb past form: pruned. In some languages «prune» means a fresh plum (French «prune»); in English it is a dried one — a false friend.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «prune» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prune/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«prune» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/prune.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «prune» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/prune/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«prune» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/prune.html) on Mova free.