edit

¹

[ed-it]

verb (used with object)

1. to supervise or direct the preparation of (a newspaper, magazine, book, etc.); serve as editor of; direct the editorial policies of.

2. to collect, prepare, and arrange (materials) for publication.

3. to revise or correct, as a manuscript.

4. to expunge; eliminate (often followed byout ).

   The author has edited out all references to his own family.

5. to add (usually followed byin ).

6. to prepare (motion-picture film, video or magnetic tape) by deleting, arranging, and splicing, by synchronizing the sound record with the film, etc.

7. Genetics.,  to alter the arrangement of (genes).

8. Computers.,  to modify or add to (data or text).

noun

1. an instance of or the work of editing.

   automated machinery that allows a rapid edit of incoming news.

edit.

²

abbreviation

1. edited.

2. edition.

3. editor.

edit

/ ˈɛdɪt /

verb

1. to prepare (text) for publication by checking and improving its accuracy, clarity, etc

2. to be in charge of (a publication, esp a periodical)

   he edits the local newspaper

3. to prepare (a film, tape, etc) by rearrangement, selection, or rejection of previously filmed or taped material

4. (tr) to modify (a computer file) by, for example, deleting, inserting, moving, or copying text

5. (often foll by out) to remove (incorrect or unwanted matter), as from a manuscript or film

noun

1. informal,  an act of editing

   give the book a final edit

Other Word Forms

• misedit verb (used with object)
• overedit verb
• reedit verb (used with object)
• unedited adjective
• well-edited adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of edit¹

First recorded in 1785–95; 1915–20 edit for def. 6; partly back formation from editor, partly from French éditer, verb derivative of Latin ēditus “published, given out,” past participle of ēdere “to give out,” from ē- e- ¹ + -dere, combining form of dare “to give” ( datum )

Word History and Origins

Origin of edit¹

C18: back formation from _editor

Example Sentences

"There was no cutting or editing out the horrible bits that no one wants to see."

From BBC

He then showed Nolan a bit of the movie while working on the edit.

From Los Angeles Times

She found many edits in Kretzmer's second draft of the musical, including changing "common" to "angry" in the song Do You Hear The People Sing?

From BBC

Southgate questioned why Emma had "so many" male friends on Facebook - most of them old acquaintances from school - which made her feel she had to edit her profile.

From BBC

Fifteen of them, for instance, contributed chapters to “Paths of Dissent,” a volume edited by Quincy Institute co-founder Andrew Bacevich and U.S.

From Salon

Related Words

• adapt 
• alter 
• analyze 
• annotate 
• arrange 
• assemble 
• censor 
• choose 
• compile 
• compose 
• delete 
• prepare 
• publish 
• rearrange 
• revise 
• select