# cropping

/ˈkɹɑpɪŋ/ (US) · /kɹˈɒpɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cropping
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

to cut or trim the edges of something, like a photo or a plant, to make it fit or look better.

For teachers: to remove the outer parts of an image or object to improve framing or adjust aspect ratio; also refers to the act of harvesting or biting off the tops of plants.

## Examples

- I am cropping the photo to remove the person in the background.
- The editor spent the afternoon cropping the high-resolution images to fit the magazine's narrow layout.
- By cropping the foreground out of the landscape shot, the photographer managed to draw the viewer's eye directly toward the distant mountain peaks.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am cropping out the photo" but "I am cropping the photo" — While you can 'crop out' a specific detail, you 'crop' the whole image; using 'out' with the main object is redundant.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, such as an image, a photo, or a plant.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.