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

This whole thing, some might say, truncated my career; maybe in one aspect, but it made it more dynamic in other aspects and more laden with possibility.

From Los Angeles Times

At the very start of primary school, his education was truncated by his father's death.

From BBC

Still, truncated as this history may be, these galleries highlight a strength other museums lack—and are racing to catch up with.

From The Wall Street Journal

And because, “as has been frequently noted,” the investigation had been “truncated” to three months, there hadn’t even been time to review some of the documents UC produced, the memo said.

From Salon

When price caps truncate the payoff window, many of their projects never get financed or are abandoned.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abbreviate
• abridge
• curtail
• cut short