Literal or historical act of cutting off a head; often used in contexts of execution or punishment.
pruning; trimming plant tops
Gardening term for cutting back the top growth of plants, especially flowers and leaves, to shape them or encourage growth.
Ancient punishments included beheading.
It's good to prune roses in early spring.
剪定 is the common word for pruning plants in general, while 截頭 specifically refers to cutting the top or head of the plant.
Standard kanji form for both senses; 截 means 'cut' and 頭 means 'head'.
Variant using 切 (cut) instead of 截; less common but still encountered.
Compound of 截 (cut) and 頭 (head). The gardening sense is a metaphorical extension of the literal meaning.