culled

Everyday

1. (euphemism, official) killed a number of animals to reduce their numbers, or because they are ill. tree →
2. chose or picked out from a large group (culled facts from books). tree →
3. (business) cut, removed (jobs culled). tree →

In the lessons

Used by farmers, wildlife officers and governments, it hides «killed» behind a technical word; also used for removing jobs or items. Official, jargon, all regions.

Examples

• Thousands of chickens were culled because of bird flu. tree →
• Deer are culled in the park to protect the trees. tree →
• The editor culled the best stories from hundreds of letters. tree →
• The company culled two hundred jobs. tree →
• The badgers were culled despite protests. tree →
• We culled old toys from the cupboard for the charity shop. tree →

Note

It often means «killed» (animals). In the «picked out» sense nothing dies. Watch the subject.