Library / English Dictionary

PARE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Decrease gradually or bit by bit

Synonyms:

pare; pare down

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "pare" is one way to...):

decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size

Example:

trim lumber

Synonyms:

pare; trim

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "pare" is one way to...):

cut (separate with or as if with an instrument)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pare"):

dress (cut down rough-hewn (lumber) to standard thickness and width)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

parer (a manicurist who trims the fingernails)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Strip the skin off

Example:

pare apples

Synonyms:

pare; peel; skin

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "pare" is one way to...):

strip (remove the surface from)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pare"):

peel off (peel off the outer layer of something)

flay (strip the skin off)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

The chefs pare the vegetables

Derivation:

parer (a small sharp knife used in paring fruits or vegetables)

paring ((usually plural) a part of a fruit or vegetable that is pared or cut off; especially the skin or peel)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Cut small bits or pare shavings from

Example:

whittle a piece of wood

Synonyms:

pare; whittle

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "pare" is one way to...):

cut (separate with or as if with an instrument)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

paring (a thin fragment or slice (especially of wood) that has been shaved from something)

Credits