taper
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taper¹
- /ˈteɪpə/ UK
- /ˈteɪpɚ/ US
Sounds like tapir · Rhymes with -eɪpə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
From Middle English taper, from Old English tapor (“taper, candle, wick of a lamp”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Latin papyrus (“papyrus", used in Mediaeval times to mean "wick of a candle”); If so, it is a doublet of papyrus; but compare Old French taper (“taper, slender candle or light”). Alternatively, of Celtic origin related to Irish tapar (“taper”), Welsh tampr (“a taper, torch”); further compare Sanskrit तपती (tápati, “(it) warms, gives out heat, is hot; (it) heats”). More at tepid. First attested before the 12th c.
noun tapers
- A slender wax candle. Strike on the Tinder, hoa: Giue me a Taper […]
- A small light.
- A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness and/or cross section in an elongated object. the taper of a spire
- The portion of an object with such a form. ensuring the cleanliness of the taper of a machine tool spindle or of a tool shank
- Ellipsis of machine taper
- A long wick or thin stick used for transferring flames to candles, now usually chemically-treated to burn particularly slowly.
- A cone-shaped item for stretching the hole for an ear gauge (piercing).
- Gradual reduction over time. a drug taper
verb tapers · tapering · tapered
- To make thinner or narrower at one end. Though true cylinders without — within, the villainous green goggling glasses deceitfully tapered downwards to a cheating bottom.
- To become thinner or narrower at one end. Like other supertall towers, 432 Park relies on the counterweight system to address the forces of wind and reduce the feeling of swaying for residents. But unlike many other supertall towers that are tiered or taper toward the top, 432 Park is rectangular, making it less aerodynamic.
- To diminish gradually. Current major clinical practice guidelines provide little support for clinicians wishing to help patients discontinue or taper antidepressants in terms of mitigating and managing withdrawal symptoms.
- To tighten monetary policy.
Similar: narrow
adjective
- Tapered; narrowing to a point.
taper²
- /ˈteɪpə/ UK
- /ˈteɪpɚ/ US
Sounds like tapir · Rhymes with -eɪpə(ɹ)
noun tapers
- One who operates a tape machine.
- Someone who works with tape or tapes.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: candle, wick, sharpen, point, wax light, tape, acuminate, scroll, thin, reduction, scrolling, withdrawal, reamers, decrease, lessen, diminish
verb
Similar: narrow
Translations
Every language
noun slender wax candle
| Français | chandelle |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | dünne Wachskerze, Kerze, Leuchterkerze |
| Italiano | smusso, stoppino, stearica |
| Ελληνικά | λεπτό κερί leptó kerí, αγιοκέρι agiokéri |
| Русский | то́нкая све́чка tónkaja svéčka, све́чка svéčka |
noun tapering form
| Português | conicidade, afunilamento |
|---|---|
| Français | conicité, effilage |
| Deutsch | Verjüngung, Kegel, Abschrägung |
| Italiano | smusso, conicità, rastrematura, rastremazione |
| Ελληνικά | απολέπτυνση apoléptynsi, κωνικότητα konikótita |
| Русский | суже́ние sužénije |
verb to make thinner or narrower at one end
| Español | adelgazar |
|---|---|
| Français | rétrécir |
| Deutsch | verschmälern, verjüngen, zuspitzen, abschrägen, abdrehen, anschrägen |
| Italiano | affusolare, affilare, smussare |
| Ελληνικά | λεπτύνω leptýno |
| Русский | заостря́ть zaostrjátʹ, сужа́ть sužátʹ, утонча́ть utončátʹ, придавать уклон pridavatʹ uklon |
verb to become thinner or narrower at one end
| Русский | сужаться sužatʹsja, утончаться utončatʹsja, давать уклон davatʹ uklon, сходить на клин sxoditʹ na klin |
|---|
verb to diminish gradually
| Español | estrecharse |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | abnehmen, sich verjüngen, sich verengen, sich zuspitzen, spitz zulaufen |
| Italiano | assottigliare |
| Ελληνικά | απολεπτύνομαι apoleptýnomai, αποξύνομαι apoxýnomai |
| Русский | уменьшаться, сходить на нет sxoditʹ na net |
Talk about this word "taper." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/taper. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. taper. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/taper "taper." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/taper.Cite this
@misc{taper_2026,
title = {taper},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/taper},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
