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

In collaboration with the Los Angeles Public Library, she edited a book of tabloid photos called “Local News” that ran in the Los Angeles Herald-Express.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Hardison, on a recent day when she was furloughed, said she has been spending her days working on trips or editing and posting a backlog of videos, whose ads also bring in some money.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Clinical results have been strong in areas investors had written off, such as gene editing and gene therapy, Lyons of Janus Henderson points out.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And don't expect to see him in the background in the King's Christmas message, any sightings will have been edited out.

Read more on BBC

Moderna’s mRNA platform, which is capable of editing and updating vaccines in days rather than months, made it the ideal partner for that mission.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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