taper

¹ American  

[tey-per] / ˈteɪ pər /

verb (used without object)

1. to become smaller or thinner toward one end.

2. to grow gradually lean.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make gradually smaller toward one end.

2. to reduce gradually.

noun

1. gradual diminution of width or thickness in an elongated object.

2. gradual decrease of force, capacity, etc.

3. anything having a tapering form, as a spire or obelisk.

4. a candle, especially a very slender one.

5. a long wick coated with wax, tallow, or the like, as for use in lighting candles or gas.

verb phrase

1. taper off

   1. to become gradually more slender toward one end.

   2. to cease by degrees; decrease; diminish.

      The storm is beginning to taper off now.

      I haven't stopped smoking entirely, but I'm tapering off to three cigarettes a day.

taper ² American  

[tey-per] / ˈteɪ pər /

noun

1. a person who records or edits magnetic tape, videotape, etc.

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taper British  

/ ˈteɪpə /

verb

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

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noun

1. a thin candle

2. a thin wooden or waxed strip for transferring a flame; spill

3. a narrowing

4. engineering (in conical parts) the amount of variation in the diameter per unit of length

5. any feeble source of light

Other Word Forms

• taperer
  noun
• tapering
  adjective
• taperingly
  adverb
• untapering
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of taper¹

First recorded before 900; from Middle English: “wax candle,” from Old English, variant of tapur, dissimilated variant of unattested papur paper

Origin of taper²

First recorded in 1980–85; tape + -er ¹

Explanation

To taper is to gradually grow smaller or more narrow or less intense. Taper is often used with the word "off." Part of the power of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is how the two walls appear to taper off into infinity. As a verb, taper can refer not just to physical objects that narrow: the weather forecast might call for heavy snow that will taper off at the end of the day, and public interest in a political scandal might taper off over time. As a noun, taper refers to a shape that narrows at one end, and it's also another word for a candle that is smaller at one end than the other. "Narrow candle" is the original meaning of the word, and it seems to derive from the Latin papyrus, which was once used to make candle wicks.

Example Sentences

“Steady precipitation will taper off to showers by late this afternoon and become confined to the mountains by late tonight,” the weather service posted in a Thursday morning forecast.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

But that spending will see £126m drawn down from reserves, as part of the new five-year strategy that will see that figure taper to £35.8m in the 2030-31 financial year.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

The 12-month core rate could also taper to 2.5% from 2.6%, estimates show.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 9, 2026

Share prices climbed a median 2% a month after the insider purchases, but their recoveries tended to taper off after that.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

Jon blew out the taper he carried, preferring not to risk an open flame amidst so much old dry paper.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• abate
• dwindle
• lessen
• recede
• subside