pare

¹

[ pair ]

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 ).
3. to reduce or remove by or as by cutting; diminish or decrease gradually (often followed by down ):

   to pare down one's expenses.

   Synonyms: lessen, shave, clip

   Antonyms: increase

Paré

²

[ pa-rey ]

noun

1. Am·broise [ah, n, -, brwaz], 1510–90, French surgeon.

Paré

¹

/ pare /

noun

1. ParéAmbroise15101590MFrenchMEDICINE: surgeon Ambroise (ɑ̃brwaz). 1510–90, French surgeon. He reintroduced ligature of arteries following amputation instead of cauterization

pare

²

/ pɛə /

verb

1. to peel or cut (the outer layer) from (something)
2. to cut the edges from (the nails); trim
3. to decrease bit by bit

Derived Forms

• ˈparer, noun

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pare¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pare¹

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

Synonym Study

See peel ¹.

Example Sentences

In retirement, Frank is consciously trying to pare down and rein in.

From The Daily Beast

After food stamp usage hit record-breaking numbers in 2013, Congress tried to pare back the benefit.

From The Daily Beast

Those measures, combined with continued sustained growth and increasing taxes, have helped pare the deficit.

From The Daily Beast

Jessica Pare serenaded Don Draper on Mad Men but the fascination with her rendition of “Zou Bisou Bisou” is still a bit baffling.

From The Daily Beast

How have we let social interaction pare us down to fewer than 140 keystrokes?

From The Daily Beast

Ambroise Pare, standing in a corner, caught a glance which the duke cast upon him, and immediately advanced.

From Project Gutenberg

No sooner was he in the open street than Ruggiero took his arm and asked by what means Ambroise Pare proposed to save the king.

From Project Gutenberg

"Your reign is over, messieurs," said Catherine to the Guises, seeing from Pare's face that there was no longer any hope.

From Project Gutenberg

Pare your pineapple; cut it in small pieces, and leave out the core.

From Project Gutenberg

The old lawyer sat down, took a penknife from a drawer, and throwing himself back in his chair, began to pare his nails.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cut back
• cut down
• decrease
• lower
• mark down
• prune
• reduce
• scrape
• shave
• slash