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Definition of paring

paring

/ˈpɛr.ɪŋ/
par · ing
Plural:parings
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paring Lexical Profile

paring Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A thin strip, peel, or fragment cut or shaved off from the outer layer of something, especially a fruit, vegetable, or fingernail.

Example

"She swept the apple parings into the compost bin after preparing the pie filling."

2

The act or process of cutting away an outer edge or gradually reducing the size, amount, or extent of something.

Example

"The committee approved a careful paring of the annual budget to eliminate unnecessary overhead."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for paring
Antonyms
View all antonyms for paring

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'paring' (trimming away an outer layer or reducing something) with the homophone 'pairing' (matching two items together).

• Rhymes for paring

• Nearby Words

parfait
pariah
parimutuel
paring
paris
parish
parishioner

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Middle English verb 'paren', borrowed from Old French 'parer' (to prepare, trim, or adorn), ultimately from Latin 'parare' (to make ready).

Cite this Entry

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