Culling: meaning, definitions and examples

Culling is commonly used in the context of reducing the population of animals, especially when dealing with disease control or maintaining ecological balance. It can have a slightly negative connotation as it involves the purposeful killing of animals.

• The wildlife reserve implemented culling measures to prevent the spread of disease among deer.
• Farmers resorted to culling chickens to control the outbreak of bird flu.

Population control is a broader term that can be applied to humans, animals, or plants. It focuses on managing the size and growth of a population for various reasons, including environmental sustainability or resource management.

• The city introduced measures for population control to manage overcrowding.
• Population control is crucial for preserving endangered species.

Selective removal is often used in a more neutral context, emphasizing the careful and deliberate removal of specific individuals or items, usually to improve the health or quality of the remaining population.

• Selective removal of infected trees helped to save the forest from a widespread disease.
• The team is working on the selective removal of invasive species to protect the native plants.

Thinning out generally refers to reducing the number in a group or population to promote healthier growth or improve conditions. It's often used in gardening, forestry, and animal management contexts.

• Gardeners recommend thinning out seedlings to ensure each plant has enough space to grow.
• The forest rangers are thinning out young trees to prevent overcrowding and allow stronger trees to thrive.

Similar to 'culling', though sometimes more general, implying any sort of selection process.

• The librarian is busy culling old books that are no longer relevant.
• Culling of outdated products from the inventory happens twice a year.

Used mainly in data analysis and technology fields, focusing on reducing the amount of data while retaining its integrity and value.

• Data reduction techniques are essential for efficient big data management.
• The software uses data reduction algorithms to compress files without losing critical information.

Refers specifically to the act of permanently removing redundant or outdated data from a database or system.

• The IT team scheduled a data purging session to free up server space.
• Regular data purging helps to keep the system optimized and efficient.

Usually refers to simplifying or reducing the informational content, making it easier to understand or manage.

• The article was too long, so the editor performed information trimming to make it more readable.
• During the presentation, the speaker engaged in information trimming to stay within the allotted time.