noun
parer
PAIR-uhr
Parer (noun) means a small knife or hand tool used to trim the skin or outer layer from fruit and vegetables. Example: “She peeled the apples with a parer rather than a peeler.”
noun
1
A small knife or hand tool used to trim the skin or outer layer from fruit and vegetables.
"She peeled the apples with a parer rather than a peeler."
"A sharp parer makes short work of potatoes."
2
A person who pares something, cutting it back or trimming it down.
"He was a ruthless parer of budgets."
How to use parer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA little knife for peeling and trimming food.
When to use it
Now largely confined to cookware and trade contexts; 'paring knife' is the everyday term.
Memory tip
Do not confuse with 'pairer' (one who pairs things) — same sound, different word.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
apple parer
nail parer
hoof parer
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She peeled the apples with a _____ rather than a peeler.
Etymology
From pare plus the agent suffix -er; pare comes via Old French parer from Latin parare 'to prepare, make ready'.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for parer
See all rhymes for parer →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a parer and a peeler?
A parer is a small knife with a straight blade that you control by hand, so it can trim, core and shape as well as peel. A peeler has a fixed slotted blade that only removes a thin strip of skin.
Is a parer the same as a paring knife?
Yes, in the kitchen the two terms are used interchangeably, though 'paring knife' is far more common in modern recipes and catalogues.
What is the meaning of parer?
"parer" (noun) means a small knife or hand tool used to trim the skin or outer layer from fruit and vegetables.
What is another word for parer?
Other words for "parer" include paring knife, peeler, trimmer.
