pare
verb /peə(r)/
/per/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they pare | /peə(r)/ /per/ |
| he / she / it pares | /peəz/ /perz/ |
| past simple pared | /peəd/ /perd/ |
| past participle pared | /peəd/ /perd/ |
| -ing form paring | /ˈpeərɪŋ/ /ˈperɪŋ/ |
- to remove the thin outer layer of something, especially of fruit
- pare something She pared the apple.
- pare something from something First, pare the rind from the lemon.
- pare something off/away He pared away the excess glue with a razor blade.
- [often passive] to gradually reduce the size or amount
- be pared back/down (to something) The training budget has been pared back to a minimum.
- The workforce has been pared to the bone (= reduced to the lowest possible level).
- pare something (especially British English) to cut away the edges of something, especially your nails, in order to make them smooth and neat see also parings
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French parer ‘adorn, prepare’, also ‘peel, trim’, from Latin parare ‘prepare’.
Homophones pair | pare | pearpair pare pear
/peə(r)/
/per/
- pair noun
- He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt.
- pair verb
- The teacher decided to pair able students with those who were struggling.
- pare verb
- They had to pare the novel down for a two-hour film.
- pear noun
- Dessert was a delicious poached pear in red wine.