What is pare? Pronunciation and usage in English

pare means . Learn how to pronounce and use pare through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of pare

pareverb

/peə(r)//per/

The word "pare" is pronounced pair.

It sounds exactly like the word "pair" – like the shoes you wear.

Here's a breakdown:

  • pai - like the word "pay"
  • r - a short, quick "r" sound

You can hear it pronounced here: https://www.merriam-webster.com/audio/pronunciation/pare

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Usage and examples with the word pare in English

The word "pare" has a specific and somewhat antiquated meaning in English, and it's often a source of confusion for learners. Here's a breakdown of how to use it, along with examples:

1. Core Meaning: To Cut or Slice Off Small Pieces

  • Definition: "Pare" primarily means to cut or slice off a thin, neat layer of something, usually with a knife. It's about removing a small strip of surface material. Think of it like shaving.

  • Commonly Used With: Vegetables (particularly apples, potatoes, and carrots), citrus fruits (like oranges and lemons), and sometimes cheese.

  • Examples:

    • "I need to pare this apple before I slice it for pie." (Remove the peel)
    • "She used a vegetable peeler to pare the potatoes." (Remove the skin)
    • "He pared his nails with a small file." (Smooth the edges)
    • "He pared back the design to make it simpler." (Meaning to reduce or simplify - a more figurative use.)

2. Figurative Use (Less Common): To Reduce or Thin Out

  • Definition: "Pare" can also be used figuratively to mean to reduce something, to thin out, or to simplify. This usage is less frequent and sometimes considered a bit formal.

  • Examples:

    • "The company needed to pare its budget in the face of economic downturn." (Reduce the budget)
    • "He decided to pare down his possessions to a more manageable number." (Reduce possessions)
    • “She pared unnecessary details from the manuscript.” (Remove unnecessary details)

3. Related Words & Phrases:

  • Paring Knife: The tool specifically used for paring.
  • Pared fruit: Fruit that has been pared (skinned).
  • To pare something down: A common idiom meaning to simplify or reduce. (e.g. "Let’s pare down the plan to the essentials.")

Key Differences & Nuances:

  • "Pare" vs. "Slice": "Slice" implies cutting through something completely. "Pare" involves removing a thin layer.
  • "Pare" vs. "Peel": A peel is usually a continuous strip of the outer layer. A pare is a series of small, thin cuts.

Resources for Further Learning:

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Synonyms for the word pare

Practice with vocabulary pare

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. To improve efficiency, the company decided to ________ its non-essential expenditures.
  2. Before adding the potatoes to the stew, remember to ________ them thoroughly.
  3. Analysts predict the firm will need to ________ its workforce further to remain competitive.
  4. The committee decided to ________ the proposal to include the new safety regulations.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which word(s) best describe the action of significantly reducing expenses to conserve resources? A) amplify B) pare C) expand D) curtail E) augment

  2. When revising a lengthy document, you might need to ________ unnecessary paragraphs to improve clarity. A) append B) abridge C) pare D) elaborate E) shorten

  3. To fully understand the core issue, we must ________ away the superficial details and distractions. A) build B) strip C) add D) pare E) construct

  4. The landscaper had to ________ the overgrown hedges to maintain the garden's neat appearance. A) grow B) extend C) trim D) lengthen E) clip

  5. It's essential to ________ the skin from the fruit before using it in the smoothie recipe. A) peel B) coat C) cover D) shave E) core

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The committee decided to significantly reduce the scope of the project due to budget constraints. (Rewrite using a form of "pare".)

  2. When preparing the financial report, it's crucial to remove all the redundant information to highlight the key findings. (Rewrite using a form of "pare".)

  3. We need to make some minor adjustments to the final draft before submission. (Rewrite using a suitable replacement word, not "pare".)

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. pare
  2. peel
  3. pare
  4. amend

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. B) pare, D) curtail
  2. B) abridge, C) pare, E) shorten
  3. B) strip, D) pare
  4. C) trim, E) clip
  5. A) peel

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The committee decided to pare down the project's scope due to budget constraints.
  2. When preparing the financial report, it's crucial to pare away all the redundant information to highlight the key findings.
  3. We need to refine the final draft before submission.

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