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Definition of pare

pare

/pɛər/
pare
Past Simple:pared
•
Past Participle:pared
•
Present Participle:paring
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pare Lexical Profile

pare Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To reduce something in size, extent, or quantity in a series of small, gradual steps (often followed by 'down' or 'back').

Example

"The committee decided to pare down the departmental budget to cover unexpected operational costs."

2

To trim or cut off the outer skin, rind, or edges of something using a sharp blade.

Example

"The chef used a small knife to pare the apples before slicing them for the tart."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for pare
Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'pare' (to trim, peel, or reduce) with its homophones 'pair' (a set of two) and 'pear' (the fruit).

• Rhymes for pare

• Nearby Words

pardon
pardonable
pardonably
pare
paren
parent
parentage

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English paren, borrowed from Old French parer ('to arrange, prepare, or trim'), which derives from Latin parāre ('to make ready or prepare').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pare. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pare
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