cull

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cull / kəl/ • v. [tr.] (usu. be culled) select from a large quantity; obtain from a variety of sources: anecdotes culled from Greek and Roman history. ∎  reduce the population of (a wild animal) by selective slaughter. ∎  send (an inferior or surplus animal on a farm) to be slaughtered. ∎ poetic/lit. pick (flowers or fruit): [as adj.] (culled) fresh culled daffodils. • n. a selective slaughter of wild animals. ∎  [usu. as adj.] an inferior or surplus livestock animal selected for killing: a cull cow.DERIVATIVES: cull·er n.

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