truncate

American  

[truhng-keyt] / ˈtrʌŋ keɪt /

verb (used with object)

truncated, truncating

1. to shorten by cutting off a part; cut short.

   Truncate detailed explanations.

   Synonyms:

   abbreviate, curtail, trim, abridge

2. Mathematics, Computers. to shorten (a number) by dropping a digit or digits.

   The numbers 1.4142 and 1.4987 can both be truncated to 1.4.

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adjective

1. truncated.

2. Biology.

   1. square or broad at the end, as if cut off transversely.

   2. lacking the apex, as certain spiral shells.

truncate British  

verb

1. (tr) to shorten by cutting off a part, end, or top

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adjective

1. cut short; truncated

2. biology having a blunt end, as though cut off at the tip

   a truncate leaf

Usage

What does truncate mean? Truncate means to shorten something by removing part of it. You can truncate something by removing the beginning of it, the end of it, the top of it, or another part of it. In scientific and medical contexts, truncating often involves cutting off a part of something in a way that’s parallel to its base (or perpendicular to its side). In the context of math, to truncate is to shorten a number by dropping some of the digits after the decimal place. For example, 1. 524 can be truncated to 1. 5. Less commonly, truncate can be used as an adjective with the same meaning as truncated—shortened, as if having had a portion cut off. Example: When they originally released the movie, they truncated the ending, but they’re planning to release the full version soon.

Other Word Forms

• subtruncate adjective
• truncately adverb
• truncation noun

Etymology

Origin of truncate

1480–90; < Latin truncātus (past participle of truncāre to lop), equivalent to trunc ( us ) trunk + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

The verb truncate means "to cut off or shorten." You can truncate a board that is too long using a power saw, a chain saw, or perhaps even a karate kick. The word truncate is from a Latin word, truncare, which means "to maim or to cut off." Although this brings to mind a more grisly image ("truncate a limb in an accident"), you can actually truncate things that are not related to anatomy. You could truncate an essay by omitting a paragraph or two, or you could even truncate your vacation in Belize by heading home early.

Example Sentences

They are rewriting course material and asking students to truncate class discussions about race and sex, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025

But the constitutional terrain would shift in one essential respect: Courts would no longer be permitted to truncate the narrative.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2025

“In order to do a new rule or undo an old rule, you still have to go through the rulemaking process. I suspect they’re going to try to truncate that in some way.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2024

"The task before us is too great and urgent to be derailed by those who seek to truncate the peace and security that we have enjoyed as a country," he said in the post.

From Reuters • Nov. 27, 2023

He pointed out that it was relatively easy to pronounce, though there was the danger that Americans, obsessed with abbreviation, would truncate it to Nick.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Related Words

• abbreviate
• abridge
• curtail
• cut short