parer

Small kitchen blade

A parer is a small knife used for peeling and trimming fruits and vegetables—a paring knife.

The word can also mean anyone or anything that pares: a nail parer, a budget parer.

The tool sense dominates in kitchen contexts: She reached for the parer to peel the apples.

culinary

knife

Sharp cutting utensil

peelerSkin-removing utensil
bladeFlat cutting edge
slicerTool that divides thinly

vegetable · fruit · potato · apple · carrot · zester · corer · julienne · garnish · prep

peel

skin

Body's outer layer

rindTough outer covering
stripNarrow elongated piece
shaveCut hair close

scrape · husk · zest · whittle · shaving · thin · layer · remove · outer · surface

manicure

nail

Metal fastener or keratin plate

cuticleDead skin at nail base
trimmerCutting or pruning device
manicureCosmetic fingertip grooming

pedicure · grooming · salon · esthetician · buffing · shaping · nailcare · hangnail · clippers · nippers

pruning

trim

Remove unwanted edges

pruneDesiccated stone fruit
snipSmall quick cut
clipCut or attach

shears · branch · hedge · garden · shrub · horticulture · topiary · deadhead · vine · orchard

Opposites

knife size and function

parerchef's knife

Kitchen's primary cutting tool

cleaver · butcher knife · carving knife · machete · bread knife

action direction (trimming vs. adding)

pareraccumulator

Device storing incremental charge

adder · builder · augmenter · expander · enlarger

precision vs. power

Broad-bladed cutting tool

axe · machete · meat tenderizer · splitting maul · hatchet

Phrases

pare downReduce by removing excess
paring knifeSmall-bladed kitchen tool
pared downReduced to basics
paring knivesSmall kitchen cutting tools
paring downGradual reduction process
parking lot repairFixing vehicle storage areas

Family

prepare, separate, prepared, preparing, pare, apparatus, prepares, paring, preparatory

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G