pare

[ pair ]
See synonyms for pare on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),pared, par·ing.
  1. to cut off the outer coating, layer, or part of.

  2. to remove (an outer coating, layer, or part) by cutting (often followed by off or away).

  1. to reduce or remove by or as by cutting; diminish or decrease gradually (often followed by down): to pare down one's expenses.

Origin of pare

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English paren, from Middle French parer, “to make ready, trim” from Latin parāre ”to prepare, make ready“; see origin at prepare

synonym study For pare

1. See peel1.

Other words for pare

Opposites for pare

Other words from pare

  • pare·a·ble, adjective
  • un·pared, adjective

Words that may be confused with pare

Other definitions for Paré (2 of 2)

Paré
[ pa-rey ]

noun
  1. Am·broise [ahn-brwaz], /ɑ̃ˈbrwaz/, 1510–90, French surgeon.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pare in a sentence

  • As long as the United States was the economic primus inter pares, those arguments were hard to gainsay.

    Obama's G-20 Misfire | Zachary Karabell | November 11, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • The other loaves he pares round, cuts one in two, and gives the upper half in halves to him.

  • They are 'Arcades ambo et cantare pares et respondere parati.'

    Euthydemus | Plato
  • The leaf it pares off he picks up and thrusts into his mouth, greedily pushing in the crumbs.

    Contemporary One-Act Plays | Sir James M. Barrie
  • The Dart stands out as prima inter pares at least, because it adds tidal distinctions to its other charms.

  • Rue des Perchamps, once Pares Campi, crosses the site of the ancient cemetery of the district.

    Historic Paris | Jetta S. Wolff

British Dictionary definitions for pare (1 of 2)

pare

/ (pɛə) /


verb(tr)
  1. to peel or cut (the outer layer) from (something)

  2. to cut the edges from (the nails); trim

  1. to decrease bit by bit

Origin of pare

1
C13: from Old French parer to adorn, from Latin parāre to make ready

Derived forms of pare

  • parer, noun

British Dictionary definitions for Paré (2 of 2)

Paré

/ (French pare) /


noun
  1. Ambroise (ɑ̃brwaz). 1510–90, French surgeon. He reintroduced ligature of arteries following amputation instead of cauterization

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012