1. (

• pare ,
• pare_down

) decrease gradually or bit by bit ;

2. (

• whittle ,
• pare ,

) cut small bits or pare shavings from; "whittle a piece of wood" ;

3. (

• skin ,
• peel ,
• pare ,

) strip the skin off; "pare apples" ;

4. (

• pare ,
• trim ,

) remove the edges from and cut down to the desired size; "pare one's fingernails"; "trim the photograph"; "trim lumber" ;