Truncate: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when you want to shorten something by cutting off a part, usually referring to text, data, or a sequence.

• The text was too long, so we had to truncate it to fit the page.
• The data was truncated to fit the database requirements.

A general term for separating or reducing the length or size of something using a sharp tool. It can be used in a wide range of contexts, from physical cutting to reducing budgets.

• I need to cut this paper into smaller pieces.
• The company decided to cut the marketing budget by 10%.

Typically refers to making something shorter in duration, length, or extent. Used for articles, periods of time, objects, or even clothing.

• She had to shorten her speech due to time constraints.
• He shortened the rope to fit the space.

Often used when cutting small pieces or parts off something, usually to tidy it up, such as hair, nails, plants, or even a portion of a recorded material.

• He clipped the hedge into a neat shape.
• She clipped her dog's fur for the summer.
• They clipped the video to just the highlights.

Use when you want to shorten something by cutting off part of it, especially when dealing with data or text.

• The program will truncate the text if it exceeds 100 characters.
• He decided to truncate his long speech to fit the time limit.

Applied in mathematical or financial contexts when you reduce a number to the nearest lower whole number or specified unit.

• When calculating taxes, you need to round down to the nearest dollar.
• The software will round down the result to two decimal places.

Informal term used when you want to cut off something abruptly or forcefully. It is often used in conversations about removing physical parts or drastic cuts.

• She accidentally chopped off a piece of her hair.
• The tree was too tall, so they decided to chop off the top branches.

Refer to the first word's context for usage.

This phrase is appropriate when you want to turn a number down to the nearest whole number or specified place value. It's often used in mathematical and financial contexts.

• For the budget, round down all estimates to the nearest dollar.
• In the report, you should round down sales figures to the nearest hundred.

This word is best used when you intentionally let something fall or omit it. The tone can be neutral or slightly negative, depending on the situation.

• Remember to drop the last column in the dataset.
• She decided to drop the topic entirely after the argument.