Definitions for: Pare


[v] decrease gradually or bit by bit
[v] remove the edges from; "pare one's fingernails"; "trim the photograph"
[v] strip the skin off ("pare apples")
[v] cut small bits or pare shavings from; "whittle a piece of wood"



Webster (1913) Definition: Pare, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pared; p. pr. & vb. n.
Paring.] [F. parer to pare, as a horse's hoofs, to dress or
curry, as, leather, to clear, as anchors or cables, to parry,
ward off, fr. L. parare to prepare. Cf. Empire, Parade,
Pardon, Parry, Prepare.]
1. To cut off, or shave off, the superficial substance or
extremities of; as, to pare an apple; to pare a horse's
hoof.

2. To remove; to separate; to cut or shave, as the skin,
ring, or outside part, from anything; -- followed by off
or away; as; to pare off the ring of fruit; to pare away
redundancies.

3. Fig.: To diminish the bulk of; to reduce; to lessen.

The king began to pare a little the privilege of
clergy. --Bacon.

Synonyms: pare down, peel, skin, trim, whittle

See Also: cut, decrease, flay, lessen, minify, peel off, strip

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