lopping
verb (present participle)UK /ˈlɒpɪŋ/
US /ˈlɑːpɪŋ/
Cutting off branches or parts of a tree.
The gardener was lopping the dead branches off the old oak tree.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. Cutting something off with quick, heavy strokes.
He was lopping chunks of wood off the log with an axe.
3. Removing parts of something to make it smaller or neater.
The editor spent hours lopping unnecessary scenes from the film.
4. Moving with an awkward, heavy, bounding gait.
The tired horse came lopping along the muddy path.