Definition

Noun: - A gardening tool consisting of two sharp, strong blades that pivot, designed specifically for cutting and trimming branches, stems, or twigs from woody plants like trees and shrubs. It is a type of hand shears used for light pruning tasks.

Usage

Pruning shears are used to maintain plant health and shape by removing dead, diseased, or overgrown branches. They are typically operated with one hand. - The gardener used pruning shears to trim the rose bushes. - Always clean your pruning shears after use to prevent the spread of plant disease.

Advanced Usage

• "A pair of pruning shears": The standard phrasing, as the tool consists of two joined blades.
  • You will need a sharp pair of pruning shears for this job.

Variants and Related Words

• Pruner (n): Another term for pruning shears; also refers to a person who prunes.
  • He is an expert pruner of fruit trees.
• Loppers (n): A similar but larger two-handed cutting tool for thicker branches.
• Hedge shears (n): Shears with longer blades designed for trimming hedges and shrubs, not individual branches.

Synonyms

• Secateurs (chiefly British English): A synonym for pruning shears.
• Hand pruners: A descriptive synonym emphasizing manual operation.

Related Phrases

• To prune back: To cut branches or stems back, often using pruning shears.
  • It's time to prune back the overgrown lavender.

Noun

1. shears with strong blades used for light pruning of woody plants