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.

---

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.

---

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

---

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 taper¹

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

Example Sentences

If so, GDP growth is also likely to taper off.

From MarketWatch

If so, GDP growth is also likely to taper off.

From MarketWatch

She was on the medication for 16 weeks before she began to taper, cutting down over a period of six weeks.

From BBC

Further Fed rate cuts to help support the labor market, however, are going to depend on whether inflation is about to taper off.

From MarketWatch

The Fed said that it would start its balance-sheet expansion with $40 billion of securities purchases this month, with plans to taper the pace of the new buying sometime next year.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abate
• dwindle
• lessen
• recede
• subside