pare

 
Pronunciation: /pɛː/

verb

[with object]
  • trim (something) by cutting away its outer edges: Carlo pared his thumbnails with his knife
  • cut off (the outer skin) of something: pare off the rind using a peeler
  • reduce (something) in size, extent, or quantity in a number of small successive stages: union leaders publicly pared down their demands we pared costs by doing our own cleaning

Derivatives

parer

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French parer 'adorn, prepare', also 'peel, trim', from Latin parare 'prepare'