vt. & vi.修剪，剪枝 cut off or shorten some of the branches of (a tree or bush) in order to improve the shape and growth

　～ drastically　大幅度削减
　～ away　修剪，删去
　～ down〔off〕　剪掉

　It's the best time to prune.　这是整枝的最好时节。
　He is pruning all the dead branches.　他正在剪去所有的枯枝。
　He is pruning roses with a pruning knife.　他正用修枝刀修剪玫瑰。
　We will have to prune public spending.　我们将不得不削减公共开支。
　We should prune waste in the health service to reduce government spending.　我们应该减少保健服务中的浪费以削减政府开支。
　Next year's budget will have to be drastically pruned.　下一年度的预算将大幅度削减。

 ♣ prune away　(v.+adv.)
1. 修剪掉（多余的枝叶） remove (unwanted part of anything) by cutting
　If you prune the dead branches away, the tree has a better chance of growth.　你若把枯枝剪掉，树可能长得更好。
2. 去掉（多余部分） remove (unwanted part of anything)
　I think your writing would be improved if you pruned away some of those unnecessary adjectives.　我认为若能把文章中那些没有必要的形容词删去，你的作品还能更好些。
 ♣ prune down　(v.+adv.)
1. 剪短（植物） shorten (a plant) by cutting
　Shall I prune this bush down?It's beginning to shut out some light from the house.　我把这树丛剪短些好吗?它开始遮挡屋子的光线了。
2. 削减（开支等） reduce (sth)
　Is there any way we can prune the costs down still further?　我们是否还有进一步削减费用的办法?
　His speech was so long; it should have been pruned down.　他的演说太长了，本应该删掉一些。
 ♣ prune from　(v.+prep.)
1. 从（植物）上剪去（冗枝等） remove (unwanted parts) from (a plant)
　I think some of the overhanging branches should be pruned from this tree.　我认为应该剪去这棵树上伸展得过长的树枝。
2. 从…去掉，删掉 remove (unwanted parts) from (sth)
　I think you should prune some of the adjectives from your writing so as to improve it.　我觉得你应该删去你文章中的一些多余的形容词，以使之更精练。
　The city council has been trying to prune unnecessary costs from its list.　市议会一直在努力从支出计划中削减不必要的开支。
 ♣ prune off　(v.+adv.)
　剪掉　cut off
　Please prune the twigs off.　请将小枝剪下。
　These straggly stems should be pruned off.　这些蔓生枝条该剪了。

 ♣ prune, crop, poll, shear, trim
　参见crop条。