truncate > define

verb

• Replace a corner by a plane.
• Approximate by ignoring all terms beyond a chosen one.
  • usage: "truncate a series"
• Make shorter as if by cutting off.
  • usage: "truncate a word"; "Erosion has truncated the ridges of the mountains"
  • synonyms: cut short

adjective

• Terminating abruptly by having or as if having an end or point cut off.
  • usage: "a truncate leaf"; "truncated volcanic mountains"; "a truncated pyramid"
  • synonyms: truncated

• (v.t.) To cut off; to lop; to maim.
• (a.) Appearing as if cut off at the tip; as, a truncate leaf or feather.

Truncate is the process by which an original paper check is removed from the payment-processing stream, is archived as an image and replaced by a substitute check. The original check is usually destroyed after a short time.