editing

UK: /ˈɛdɪtɪŋ/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ed•it /ˈɛdɪt/   v. [~ + object]

1. to supervise or direct the preparation of (a publication):
   Who edits the school newspaper?
2. to collect, prepare, and arrange (materials) for publication:
   She edited the president's speeches.
3. Sound Reproduction, Radio and Television, Show Business to prepare (film, tape, etc.) by deleting, arranging, and changing material:
   He spent a week editing the film for television.
4. Computing to change or modify (computer data or text):
   I edited the document on screen.

n. [countable]

5. Sound Reproduction, Radio and Television an instance or the process of editing, as of correcting something:
   a few minor edits.

ed•i•tor, n. [countable]

edit.,  an abbreviation of:

1. edited.
2. edition.
3. editor.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ed•it  (ed′it), v.t. 

1. to supervise or direct the preparation of (a newspaper, magazine, book, etc.);
   serve as editor of;
   direct the editorial policies of.
2. to collect, prepare, and arrange (materials) for publication.
3. to revise or correct, as a manuscript.
4. to expunge;
   eliminate (often fol. by out):
   The author has edited out all references to his own family.
5. to add (usually fol. by in).
6. Sound Reproduction, Radio and Television, Show Business to prepare (motion-picture film, video or magnetic tape) by deleting, arranging, and splicing, by synchronizing the sound record with the film, etc.
7. Genetics to alter the arrangement of (genes).
8. Computing to modify or add to (data or text).

n. 

9. Sound Reproduction, Radio and Television an instance of or the work of editing:
   automated machinery that allows a rapid edit of incoming news.

• Latin ēditus published (past participle of ēdere to give out), equivalent. to ē- e- + -ditus combining form of datus given; compare datum
• French éditer
• 1785–95; 1915–20 for def. 6; partly back formation from editor, partly

edit., 

1. edited.
2. edition.
3. editor.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

edit / ˈɛdɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to prepare (text) for publication by checking and improving its accuracy, clarity, etc
2. to be in charge of (a publication, esp a periodical)
3. to prepare (a film, tape, etc) by rearrangement, selection, or rejection of previously filmed or taped material
4. (transitive) to modify (a computer file) by, for example, deleting, inserting, moving, or copying text
5. (often followed by out) to remove (incorrect or unwanted matter), as from a manuscript or film

Etymology: 18th Century: back formation from editor