pare

/pɛər/

/pɛə/

Other forms: pared; paring; pares

To pare is to trim — like when you pare branches on a tree or pare down your expenses to save money.

Pare comes from the Latin word parare, meaning "to prepare." Think of peeling potatoes, which you might do with a paring knife, or paring your nails so you'll make a neat appearance. In each case, you are trimming something gradually. If you pare down your expectations, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Definitions of pare

1. verb

   strip the skin off
   “pare apples”

   synonyms: peel, skin

   types:

   peel off

   peel off the outer layer of something

   flay

   strip the skin off

   exfoliate

   remove the surface, in scales or laminae

   type of:

   strip

   remove the surface from
2. verb

   cut small bits or pare shavings from
   synonyms: whittle

   type of:

   cut

   separate with or as if with an instrument
3. verb

   remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size
   “pare one's fingernails”

   synonyms: trim

   types:

   dress

   cut down rough-hewn (lumber) to standard thickness and width

   type of:

   cut

   separate with or as if with an instrument
4. verb

   decrease gradually or bit by bit
   synonyms: pare down

   type of:

   decrease, lessen, minify

   make smaller