Category:Pare

Pare, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Pared; p. pr. & vb. n. Paring.] Etym: [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.

2. To remove; to separate; to cut or shave, as the skin, ring, or Outside part, from anything; -- followed by off or away; as; to pare Off the ring of fruit; to pare away redundancies.

3. Fig.: To diminish the bulk of; to reduce; to lessen. The king began to pare a little the privilege of clergy. Bacon.