pare > define

verb

• Decrease gradually or bit by bit.
  • synonyms: pare down
• Cut small bits or pare shavings from.
  • usage: "whittle a piece of wood"
  • synonyms: whittle
• Strip the skin off.
  • usage: "pare apples"
  • synonyms: skin, peel
• Remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size.
  • usage: "pare one's fingernails"; "trim the photograph"; "trim lumber"
  • synonyms: trim

• (v.t.) To cut off or shave off, the superficial substance or extremities of; as, to pare an apple; to pare a horse's hoof.
• (v.t.) Fig.: To diminish the bulk of; to reduce; to lessen.
• (v.t.) 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.