truncate
truncate
Pronunciation
/trʌŋˈkeɪt/:
trʌŋ:
/tr/ - a voiceless alveolar stop (/t/) followed by a rhotic consonant (/r/)
/ʌ/ - the "uh" sound in "cut"
ˈkeɪt:
/ˈ/ - indicates the primary stress is on this syllable
/k/ - a voiceless velar stop
/eɪ/ - a diphthong, similar to the "ay" in "say"
/t/ - a voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
truncate (verb, present tense): This is the base form of the verb. It means to shorten something by cutting off the end. Example: Please truncate the long document.
truncates (verb, third-person singular present): Used with he, she, it. Example: He truncates the branches of the tree.
truncated (verb, past tense/past participle): Describes an action that has already happened. It can also be used as an adjective. Example (verb): They truncated the article yesterday. Example (adjective): The truncated branch lay on the ground.
truncating (verb, present participle): Describes an action in progress. Example: She is truncating the image to fit the frame.
truncation (noun): The act or process of truncating; the result of truncating. Example: The truncation of the data caused some issues.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb:
truncate (verb): To shorten something by cutting off a part, typically the end. This can apply to physical objects, text, data, or even time periods.
Synonyms: shorten, abridge, curtail, trim, lop, prune, clip, dock, excise
Antonyms: lengthen, extend, expand, prolong, augment, amplify
Example: The editor truncated the lengthy article to fit the magazine's page limit.
Adjective:
truncated (adjective): Having been shortened or cut off. Describes something that has had a portion removed.
Synonyms: shortened, abridged, curtailed, trimmed, lopped, pruned, clipped, docked, excised, incomplete
Antonyms: lengthened, extended, expanded, prolonged, augmented, complete, whole
Example: The truncated pyramid still showed signs of its former grandeur.
Noun:
truncation (noun): The act or process of truncating; the state of being truncated. Also, the portion that is removed.
Synonyms: shortening, abridgment, curtailment, trimming, lopping, pruning, clipping, docking, excision, reduction, abbreviation
Antonyms: lengthening, extension, expansion, prolongation, augmentation, completion, addition
Example: The data loss was a result of the unexpected truncation. The truncation of the branch left a clean cut.
Examples of Use
Books:
"The program would then truncate the file name to eight characters." (Kernighan & Ritchie, The C Programming Language) This is a classic example from computer science, showing how "truncate" is used in programming contexts.
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"The website automatically truncates long URLs to make them more shareable." (Hypothetical example, but common practice). This illustrates the practical use of truncation in web development.
"Social media platforms often truncate text posts, requiring users to click 'read more'." (General knowledge). This is a very common experience for anyone using social media.
"The article was truncated due to space constraints in the print edition." (Hypothetical example, but a frequent occurrence in print media).
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"The video game truncates the rendering of distant objects to improve performance." (Hypothetical example related to game development). This illustrates a technical use of the term.
"Many video editing software programs allow users to truncate audio or video clips." (General knowledge). This is a common function in video editing software.
General Public Discourse:
"The discussion was truncated due to time constraints." (Common usage in meetings or discussions). This shows how "truncate" is used in everyday conversations.
"My name was truncated on the name tag because it was too long." (Common experience). This is a relatable example of truncation in a physical context.
Technical/Scientific Contexts:
"The scientist truncated the data set to remove outliers." (Hypothetical, but common in data analysis). This example shows how "truncate" is used in research and data science.
"The surgeon truncated the damaged tissue." (Hypothetical example from medicine). This is a more specialized use in a medical context.
10 Famous Quotes Using Truncate
“Do not truncate your dreams to fit someone else’s vision.” (Unknown)
“My mentor said to never truncate your potential in the name of comfort.” (Unknown)
“History warns us that leaders who truncate truth invite collapse.” (Unknown)
“A poet wrote that sorrow tends to truncate joy, unless we fight to keep it whole.” (Unknown)
“Do not truncate your ambition; refine it, expand it, honor it.” (Unknown)
“Revolutions fail when they truncate their purpose for convenience.” (Unknown)
“Fear will try to truncate your courage at the first sign of difficulty.” (Unknown)
“A wise strategist knows when to truncate a failing plan and begin anew.” (Unknown)
“To truncate conversation is to limit understanding.” (Unknown)
“Hope grows when you refuse to truncate possibility.” (Unknown)
Etymology
"Truncate" comes from the Latin word truncare, which means "to cut off," "to lop," or "to maim." Think of it like cutting a branch off a tree – that's the kind of action truncare describes.
Truncare itself comes from truncus, which means "trunk" (like the trunk of a tree) or "body." Imagine a tree trunk that's been cut short – that's the core image here.
So, the word's journey is like this:
Start with the idea of a tree trunk (truncus).
Then, think of cutting that trunk short (truncare).
Finally, we get "truncate" in English, meaning to shorten by cutting off a part.
The first known use of "truncate" in English, according to etymological resources, was in the 1500s. It carried the same basic meaning it has today: to cut short, to shorten by removing a part. It was initially used in a more physical sense, like cutting off limbs or shortening physical objects. Over time, its usage expanded to include abstract things like data, text, or time.
In essence, the word's history is all about the image of something being cut short, like a tree trunk being lopped off. That core visual has remained consistent throughout the word's evolution.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Truncate
Phrases (Less Common/Constructed):
Truncated data: This phrase is used in data science and computer programming to refer to data that has been shortened, often due to limitations or errors.
Truncated file name: Common in computing, this refers to a file name that has been shortened, often to fit within system limitations.
Truncated narrative: This could refer to a story that is cut short or ends abruptly.
Truncated lifespan: This phrase could be used to describe a life that is cut short prematurely.
Truncated conversation: This refers to a conversation that is interrupted or cut short.
Examples capturing the spirit of "truncating":
"The budget was truncated, forcing the project to be scaled back."
"His speech was truncated by a technical malfunction."
"The website truncated the article, displaying only the first few paragraphs."
Idioms with Synonyms (for similar effect):
Since "truncate" means to shorten or cut off, we can look at idioms with similar meanings:
Cut short: "The meeting was cut short by a fire alarm." (This is a very common idiom.)
Cut off: "The phone line was cut off due to unpaid bills." (Also very common.)
Shorten the story: "To shorten the story, they decided to skip the details of the journey." (This isn't a formal idiom, but the phrasing is idiomatic and common.)
Clip someone's wings: "The new regulations clipped the company's wings, preventing them from expanding." (This is a common idiom related to limiting someone's freedom or potential.)
Nip something in the bud: "The manager nipped the problem in the bud before it escalated." (This idiom refers to stopping something early in its development.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of truncate from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
