EnglishMain Dictionary
taper
Universal Words
verb, noun
verb to become gradually narrower; to make sth become gradually narrower:
[V] The tail tapered to a rounded tip. * She had long tapering fingers. * [VN] The pots are wide at the base and tapered at the top.
PHRASALVERBS
taper off to become gradually less in number, amount, degree, etc:
The number of applicants for teaching posts has tapered off.
taper sth<->off to make sth become gradually less in number, amount, degree, etc:
They are gradually tapering off production of the older models.
noun
1 a long thin piece of wood, paper, etc. that is used for lighting fires or lamps:
She lit the gas with a taper.
2 a long thin candle
3 [usuallysing.] the way that sth gradually decreases in shape or size
