truncate
To shorten by cutting off the end or top
Examples
In a meeting
“We need to truncate this presentation to fit the 30-minute slot.”
Over coffee
“The movie felt weird because they truncated the ending.”
Why this word
shorten
Truncate means cutting off abruptly at a point, while shorten is general reduction in length
cut
Truncate implies removing an end portion specifically, while cut is any separation or reduction
abbreviate
Truncate emphasizes abrupt termination, while abbreviate suggests systematic shortening with retained meaning
Usage tip
Use when something is shortened abruptly, often removing important parts
Etymology
Latin: truncare (to maim, cut off)
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Related words
streamline
To make a process or system more efficient by simplifying or eliminating unnecessary steps.
eliminate
To completely remove or get rid of something.
simplify
To make something easier to understand or do
centralize
To bring together or concentrate control in one location or authority
batch
To group similar tasks together to handle them all at once
archive
To move old or inactive items to storage while keeping them accessible