'Pare' definitions:

Definition of 'pare'

From: WordNet
verb
Decrease gradually or bit by bit [syn: pare, pare down]
verb
Cut small bits or pare shavings from; "whittle a piece of wood" [syn: whittle, pare]
verb
Strip the skin off; "pare apples" [syn: skin, peel, pare]
verb
Remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size; "pare one's fingernails"; "trim the photograph"; "trim lumber" [syn: pare, trim]

Definition of 'Pare'

From: GCIDE
  • Pare \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. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To remove; to separate; to cut or shave, as the skin, rind, or outside part, from anything; -- followed by off or away; as, to pare off the rind of fruit; to pare away redundancies. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Fig.: To diminish the bulk of; to reduce; to lessen. [1913 Webster]
  • The king began to pare a little the privilege of clergy. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]