paring

[ pair-ing ]
/ ˈpɛər ɪŋ /

noun

the act of a person or thing that pares.
a piece or part pared off: apple parings.

Origin of paring

1350–1400; Middle English (gerund); see pare, -ing1

Definition for paring (2 of 2)

pare
[ pair ]
/ pɛər /

verb (used with object), pared, par·ing.

to cut off the outer coating, layer, or part of.
to remove (an outer coating, layer, or part) by cutting (often followed by off or away).
to reduce or remove by or as by cutting; diminish or decrease gradually (often followed by down): to pare down one's expenses.

Origin of pare

1275–1325; Middle English paren < Middle French parer to make ready, trim < Latin parāre to prepare

SYNONYMS FOR pare

1 See peel1.
3 clip, shave, lessen.

OTHER WORDS FROM pare

pare·a·ble, adjective un·pared, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pare

pair pare payer pear

Example sentences from the Web for paring

British Dictionary definitions for paring (1 of 3)

paring
/ (ˈpɛərɪŋ) /

noun

(often plural) something pared or cut off

British Dictionary definitions for paring (2 of 3)

pare
/ (pɛə) /

verb (tr)

to peel or cut (the outer layer) from (something)
to cut the edges from (the nails); trim
to decrease bit by bit

Derived forms of pare

parer, noun

Word Origin for pare

C13: from Old French parer to adorn, from Latin parāre to make ready

British Dictionary definitions for paring (3 of 3)

Paré
/ (French pare) /

noun

Ambroise (ɑ̃brwaz). 1510–90, French surgeon. He reintroduced ligature of arteries following amputation instead of cauterization

Medical definitions for paring

Paré
[ pä-rā ]
Ambroise 1517?-1590

French surgeon who made numerous improvements to operating methods, including the ligature of arteries rather than cauterization.