taper


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taper

a slender candle; a gradual decrease: The storm will taper off soon.
Not to be confused with:
tapir – animal resembling swine
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

ta·per

(tā′pər)
n.
1. A small or very slender candle.
2. A long wax-coated wick used to light candles or gas lamps.
3. A source of feeble light.
4.
a. A gradual decrease in thickness or width of an elongated object.
b. A gradual decrease, as in action or force.
5. Sports A period before a competition or race in which the intensity and frequency of exercise and training is decreased.
v. ta·pered, ta·per·ing, ta·pers
v. intr.
1. To become gradually narrower or thinner toward one end.
2. To diminish or lessen gradually. Often used with off: The storm finally tapered off.
3. Sports To decrease one's exercise levels before a competition or race: tapered for a week before the marathon.
v. tr.
1. To make thinner or narrower at one end.
2. To make smaller gradually.
adj.
Gradually decreasing in size toward a point.

[Middle English, from Old English tapor, possibly ultimately from Latin papyrus, papyrus (sometimes used for candlewicks); see paper.]

ta′per·ing·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

taper

(ˈteɪpə)
vb
1. to become or cause to become narrower towards one end: the spire tapers to a point.
2. (often foll by off) to become or cause to become smaller or less significant
3. (Banking & Finance) (of an amount of something, esp money) to decrease or to be decreased gradually
4. (Economics) (usually intr) (of a central bank) to reduce or decrease activity, esp the supply and regulation of credit
5. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (usually intr) (of a central bank) to reduce or decrease activity, esp the supply and regulation of credit
n
6. a thin candle
7. a thin wooden or waxed strip for transferring a flame; spill
8. a narrowing
9. (General Engineering) engineering (in conical parts) the amount of variation in the diameter per unit of length
10. any feeble source of light
[Old English tapor, probably from Latin papӯrus papyrus (from its use as a wick)]
ˈtaperer n
ˈtapering adj
ˈtaperingly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ta•per1

(ˈteɪ pər)

v.i.
1. to become smaller or thinner toward one end.
2. to grow gradually lean.
v.t.
3. to make gradually smaller toward one end.
4. to reduce gradually.
5. taper off,
a. to become gradually more slender toward one end.
b. to cease by degrees; decrease; diminish.
n.
6. gradual diminution of width or thickness in an elongated object.
7. gradual decrease of force, capacity, etc.
8. a candle, esp. a very slender one.
9. a long wick coated with wax, tallow, or the like, as for use in lighting candles or gas.
[before 900; Middle English: wax candle, Old English, variant of tapur, by dissimilation from *papur paper]

tap•er2

(ˈteɪ pər)

n.
a person who records or edits magnetic tape.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

taper


Past participle: tapered
Gerund: tapering

Imperative
taper
taper
Present
I taper
you taper
he/she/it tapers
we taper
you taper
they taper
Preterite
I tapered
you tapered
he/she/it tapered
we tapered
you tapered
they tapered
Present Continuous
I am tapering
you are tapering
he/she/it is tapering
we are tapering
you are tapering
they are tapering
Present Perfect
I have tapered
you have tapered
he/she/it has tapered
we have tapered
you have tapered
they have tapered
Past Continuous
I was tapering
you were tapering
he/she/it was tapering
we were tapering
you were tapering
they were tapering
Past Perfect
I had tapered
you had tapered
he/she/it had tapered
we had tapered
you had tapered
they had tapered
Future
I will taper
you will taper
he/she/it will taper
we will taper
you will taper
they will taper
Future Perfect
I will have tapered
you will have tapered
he/she/it will have tapered
we will have tapered
you will have tapered
they will have tapered
Future Continuous
I will be tapering
you will be tapering
he/she/it will be tapering
we will be tapering
you will be tapering
they will be tapering
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been tapering
you have been tapering
he/she/it has been tapering
we have been tapering
you have been tapering
they have been tapering
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been tapering
you will have been tapering
he/she/it will have been tapering
we will have been tapering
you will have been tapering
they will have been tapering
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been tapering
you had been tapering
he/she/it had been tapering
we had been tapering
you had been tapering
they had been tapering
Conditional
I would taper
you would taper
he/she/it would taper
we would taper
you would taper
they would taper
Past Conditional
I would have tapered
you would have tapered
he/she/it would have tapered
we would have tapered
you would have tapered
they would have tapered
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.taper - a convex shape that narrows toward a pointtaper - a convex shape that narrows toward a point
convex shape, convexity - a shape that curves or bulges outward
2.taper - the property possessed by a shape that narrows toward a point (as a wedge or cone)
narrowing - an instance of becoming narrow
pointedness, point - the property of a shape that tapers to a sharp tip
unpointedness - the property of having only a dull tip (if any)
3.taper - a loosely woven cord (in a candle or oil lamp) that draws fuel by capillary action up into the flametaper - a loosely woven cord (in a candle or oil lamp) that draws fuel by capillary action up into the flame
candle, wax light, taper - stick of wax with a wick in the middle
candlewick - the wick of a candle
cord - a line made of twisted fibers or threads; "the bundle was tied with a cord"
kerosene lamp, kerosine lamp, oil lamp - a lamp that burns oil (as kerosine) for light
4.taper - stick of wax with a wick in the middletaper - stick of wax with a wick in the middle
candlewick - the wick of a candle
chandlery - candles and other commodities sold by a chandler
dip - a candle that is made by repeated dipping in a pool of wax or tallow
lamp - an artificial source of visible illumination
rush candle, rushlight - a tallow candle with a rush stem as the wick
vigil candle, vigil light - a candle lighted by a worshiper in a church
wick, taper - a loosely woven cord (in a candle or oil lamp) that draws fuel by capillary action up into the flame
Verb1.taper - diminish gradually; "Interested tapered off"
decrease, diminish, lessen, fall - decrease in size, extent, or range; "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper"
2.taper - give a point to; "The candles are tapered"
change form, change shape, deform - assume a different shape or form
acuminate - make sharp or acute; taper; make (something) come to a point
taper off - become smaller or less active; "Business tapered off"
fizzle, fizzle out, peter out, taper off - end weakly; "The music just petered out--there was no proper ending"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

taper

verb
1. narrow, thin, attenuate, come to a point, become thinner, become narrow The trunk doesn't taper very much.
narrow widen, grow, swell, increase
noun
1. candle, spill, wick, glim (old-fashioned) Singe the stems slightly with a lighted taper.
taper off decrease, dwindle, lessen, reduce, fade, weaken, wane, subside, wind down, die out, die away, thin out Immigration is beginning to taper off.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

taper

nounverb
To grow or cause to grow gradually less.Also used with off:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
شَمْعَه رَفيعَه، فَتيلَه مُشَمَّعَهيَسْتَدِق
svíčkazužovat se
gøre tyndere mod endenkerte
kaventuakaveta
fokozatosan vékonyítviaszgyertya
mjókka í annan endannörmjótt kerti
plona žvakėsmailėjantissmailėtismailinti
kļūt smailamsašaurinātiestieva vaska svece
zužovať sa
giderek sivrilmekince mum

taper

[ˈteɪpəʳ]
A. N (= spill) → astilla f; (= candle) → vela f
B. VIafilarse, estrecharse
to taper to a pointrematar en punta
C. VTafilar, estrechar
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

taper

[ˈteɪpər]
ncierge m
vis'effilertape-record [ˌteɪprɪˈkɔːrd] vtenregistrer (sur bande)tape recorder nmagnétophone mtape recording nenregistrement m (sur bande)
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

taper

n (= candle)(dünne) Kerze
vt end of plank, stick etczuspitzen; edgeabschrägen; hairspitz zuschneiden; pair of trousers(nach unten) verengen
visich zuspitzen; (vase)sich verjüngen; (trousers)nach unten enger werden; (hair)(im Nacken) spitz zulaufen; to taper to a pointspitz zulaufen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

taper

[ˈteɪpəʳ]
1. n (waxed spill) → cerino; (thin candle) → candelina
2. vi (also taper off) → assottigliarsi; (trousers) → restringersi
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

taper

(ˈteipə) noun
a long, thin type of candle.
verb
(sometimes with off) to make or become narrower or slimmer at one end. The leaves taper (off) to a point.
ˈtapered, ˈtapering adjective
becoming narrower or slimmer at one end. tapering fingers.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

taper

n reducción f or disminución f gradual; vt reducir or disminuir gradualmente
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
Into the right hand, which was lying palm downwards, a wax taper had been thrust between forefinger and thumb, and an old servant, bending over from behind the chair, held it in position.
Anna Mikhaylovna, with an air of importance that showed that she felt she quite knew what she was about, went across the room to where Pierre was standing and gave him a taper. He lit it and, distracted by observing those around him, began crossing himself with the hand that held the taper.
There was a light in the front room, a slight, wavering light such as would be given by a small candle or taper. The blind was down, but the light shone dimly through.
Westmacott was standing, as rigid as a statue, in the center of the room, with a lighted taper in her right hand.
It seemed to him that he was standing by the box of tapers and that Tikhon's wife was asking for a five kopek taper for the Church fete.
He opened the glass of the dull lamp, whose wick, burnt up and swollen like a drunkard's nose, came flying off in little carbuncles at the candle's touch, and scattering hot sparks about, rendered it matter of some difficulty to kindle the lazy taper; when a noise, as of a man snoring deeply some steps higher up, caused him to pause and listen.
He set one before each of the young men, together with a lighted taper.
They saw advancing towards them, to the sound of this pleasing music, what they call a triumphal car, drawn by six grey mules with white linen housings, on each of which was mounted a penitent, robed also in white, with a large lighted wax taper in his hand.
The manager returned with a wax taper in his hand, which he lighted as soon as he entered the room.
Never were hands more exquisite than hers, and it was a joy to look at them when she threaded her needle or adjusted her gold thimble to her taper middle finger as she sewed away on the little night-drawers or fashioned a bodice or a bib.
As the shadows of night approached Marheyo's household were once more assembled under his roof: tapers were lit, long curious chants were raised, interminable stories were told (for which one present was little the wiser), and all sorts of social festivities served to while away the time.
On one branch there hung little nets cut out of colored paper, and each net was filled with sugarplums; and among the other boughs gilded apples and walnuts were suspended, looking as though they had grown there, and little blue and white tapers were placed among the leaves.