truncate

American  

[truhng-keyt] / ˈtrʌŋ keɪt /

verb (used with object)

truncates, present (3rd person singular) truncated, past participle, past truncating present participle

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

Derived Forms

• truncately
  adverb
• subtruncate
  adjective
• truncation
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have truncated
  perfect
• has truncated
  perfect 3rd person singular
• are truncating
  progressive
• truncating
  participle
• has been truncating
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am truncating
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been truncating
  perfect progressive
• is truncating
  progressive 3rd person singular
• truncates
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had truncated
  perfect
• had been truncating
  perfect progressive
• truncated
  participle
• was truncating
  progressive singular
• were truncating
  progressive plural
• truncated
  simple

Future

• will truncate
  simple
• will have truncated
  perfect
• will have been truncating
  perfect progressive
• will be truncating
  progressive

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

Truncate, with the end as if cut off square; as in Fig.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa

Truncate, as if cut off at the top.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa

Truncate, trung′kāt, v.t. to cut off: to lop: to maim.—adjs.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Related Words

• abbreviate
• abridge
• curtail
• cut short