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

Example Sentences

That sentiment was more clearly expanded on when the band closed out the Friday show with a truncated rendition of Bob Marley’s 1973 hit “Get Up, Stand Up.”

From Los Angeles Times

"If the Constitutional Council proclaims falsified and truncated results, it will be complicit in a breach of trust," he declared.

From BBC

Two losses to Celtic came in the next truncated season, followed by Rangers winning in the east end of Glasgow for the first time since 2010.

From BBC

In a truncated format, Clarke's men are in a section with just three other teams - Denmark, Greece and Belarus - and play their six qualifiers over three months.

From BBC

But such a budget would necessarily be truncated.

From BBC

Related Words

• abbreviate
• abridge
• curtail
• cut short