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Cull - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

To cull means to selectively remove or eliminate something, often from a group. It is commonly used in contexts like reducing animal populations, selecting the best items, or removing inferior ones.

cull

/kʌl/ /kʌl/

Definition:

To select and remove inferior or excess items from a group, often to improve quality or reduce numbers.

Synonyms:

eliminate, weed out, thin, prune

Part of Speech:

verb, noun

Antonyms:

preserve, protect

Common Collocations:

cull the herd, cull weak plants, cull outdated stock

Derivatives:

culling, culled

Usage Tips:

Use "cull" when describing selective removal to improve a group's overall quality or reduce overpopulation.

Common Phrases:

cull the weak, cull the herd, nature’s cull

Etymology:

From Old French "cuillir," meaning "to gather," later evolving to mean selective removal in English.

Examples:

  • 1. The farmer decided to cull the sick chickens to protect the rest of the flock.
  • 2. Wildlife officials will cull deer if their population grows too large.
  • 3. She had to cull outdated files from the office archive to save space.
  • 4. The gardener will cull weak seedlings to ensure stronger plants thrive.

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