'Paring' definitions:

Definition of 'paring'

From: WordNet
noun
A thin fragment or slice (especially of wood) that has been shaved from something [syn: paring, sliver, shaving]
noun
(usually plural) a part of a fruit or vegetable that is pared or cut off; especially the skin or peel; "she could peel an apple with a single long paring"

Definition of 'Paring'

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]

Definition of 'Paring'

From: GCIDE
  • Paring \Par"ing\, n. [From Pare, v. t.]
  • 1. The act of cutting off the surface or extremites of anything. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That which is pared off. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • Pare off the surface of the earth, and with the parings raise your hills. --Mortimer. [1913 Webster]