Pare

/pɛr/

Meaning & Definition

verb
to trim something by cutting away its outer edges.
She used a knife to pare the apple before serving it.
to reduce something in size, amount, or number, usually in a gradual way.
The company decided to pare down its staff to improve efficiency.
to diminish or lessen in amount or degree.
He managed to pare the costs of the project significantly.

Etymology

Middle English 'parien', from Old French 'parer', which means to prepare or to trim.

Common Phrases and Expressions

pare down
to reduce to the essentials.
pare back
to reduce the extent of something.
pare away
to remove layer by layer until little is left.

Related Words

peel
to remove the outer covering or skin from.
trim
to make something neater by cutting away irregular or unwanted parts.
cut
to remove something from something else using a sharp tool.

Slang Meanings

to reduce intensity or to calm down
He needs to pare back his excitement about the new project.
to simplify a situation
Let's pare it down to the key points during the meeting.