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pruning shears

American  

noun

(usually used with a plural verb)
  1. small, sturdy shears used for pruning shrubbery.


Etymology

Origin of pruning shears

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Instead the final four candidates for the job were a range of eager submissives, each straining to appear enthusiastic to pick up the pruning shears and start cutting rates by the bunch:

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 2, 2026

Kathleen Ferguson grabbed a pair of pruning shears from a mailbox nailed to a garden bed and leaned down to cut bunches of Orlaya grandiflora on the flower-filled hillside.

From Los Angeles Times May 21, 2024

During those searches, two blue crowbars, pruning shears and a cutting tool were found in a nearby pond and in the Paar River, the statement said.

From New York Times Jul. 21, 2023

So, put down the pruning shears, and pick the right plant for lasting garden pictures.

From Seattle Times Jul. 16, 2022

He wore a pair of stained olive-green overalls without a shirt underneath, and he had a broad utility belt holding pruning shears, twine, a hand rake, and a trowel.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

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