Preen vs. Prune — What's the Difference?

To smooth or clean (feathers) with the beak or bill.

A prune is a dried plum, most commonly from the European plum (Prunus domestica). Not all plum species or varieties can be dried into prunes.

To trim or clean (fur) with the tongue, as cats do.

A plum preserved by drying and having a black, wrinkled appearance.

To dress or groom (oneself) with elaborate care; primp.

An unpleasant or disagreeable person

To take pride or satisfaction in (oneself); gloat.

An instance of trimming a tree, shrub, or bush

To dress up; primp.

Trim (a tree, shrub, or bush) by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, especially to encourage growth

To swell with pride; gloat or exult.

The partially dried fruit of any of several varieties of the common plum, Prunus domestica.

A forked tool used by clothiers for dressing cloth.

Any kind of plum that can be dried without spoiling.

Pin

(Slang) An ill-tempered, stupid, or incompetent person.

Bodkin; brooch

To make a facial expression exhibiting ill temper or disgust

(transitive) To pin; fasten.

To cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of (a plant, for example) to improve shape or growth.

To groom; to trim or dress the feathers with the beak.

To remove or cut out as superfluous.

To spend time making oneself attractive and admiring one's appearance, e.g. in front of a mirror.

To reduce

(intransitive) To show off, posture, or smarm.

To remove what is superfluous or undesirable.

(transitive) To flatter.

(obsolete) A plum.

(transitive) To comb; to make orderly.

The dried, wrinkled fruit of certain species of plum.

(transitive) To trim up, as trees.

(figurative) Something wrinkly like a prune.

To improve the appearance of; groom; prettify.

(slang) An old woman, especially a wrinkly one.

A forked tool used by clothiers in dressing cloth.

To become wrinkled like a dried plum, as the fingers and toes do when kept submerged in water.

To dress with, or as with, a preen; to trim or dress with the beak, as the feathers; - said of birds.

To remove excess material from a tree or shrub; to trim, especially to make more healthy or productive.

To trim up, as trees.

To cut down or shorten (by the removal of unnecessary material).

To dress (oneself) carefully or stylishly; to primp.

To remove unnecessary branches from a tree data structure.

To pride (oneself) on one's accomplishments; to congratulate (oneself).

(obsolete) To preen; to prepare; to dress.

To dress up neatly and smartly; to make oneself well-groomed and well-dressed.

To lop or cut off the superfluous parts, branches, or shoots of; to clear of useless material; to shape or smooth by trimming; to trim: as, to prune trees; to prune an essay.

To feel proud of one's achievement; to swell or gloat.

To cut off or cut out, as useless parts.

Clean with one's bill;

To preen; to prepare; to dress.

Pride or congratulate (oneself) for an achievement

To dress; to prink; -used humorously or in contempt.

Dress or groom with elaborate care;

A plum; esp., a dried plum, used in cookery; as, French or Turkish prunes; California prunes.

Dried plum

Cultivate, tend, and cut back the growth of;

Weed out unwanted or unnecessary things;