taper
1 Americanverb (used without object)
-
tapers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
tapered,
past participle, past
-
tapering
present participle
-
to become smaller or thinner toward one end.
-
to grow gradually lean.
verb (used with object)
-
tapers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
tapered,
past participle, past
-
tapering
present participle
-
to make gradually smaller toward one end.
-
to reduce gradually.
noun
-
gradual diminution of width or thickness in an elongated object.
-
gradual decrease of force, capacity, etc.
-
anything having a tapering form, as a spire or obelisk.
-
a candle, especially a very slender one.
-
a long wick coated with wax, tallow, or the like, as for use in lighting candles or gas.
verb phrase
noun
verb
-
to become or cause to become narrower towards one end
the spire tapers to a point
-
(often foll by off) to become or cause to become smaller or less significant
noun
-
a thin candle
-
a thin wooden or waxed strip for transferring a flame; spill
-
a narrowing
-
engineering (in conical parts) the amount of variation in the diameter per unit of length
-
any feeble source of light
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
tapersimple
-
taperssimple
-
have taperedperfect
-
has taperedperfect
-
am taperingprogressive
-
are taperingprogressive
-
is taperingprogressive
-
have been taperingperfect progressive
-
has been taperingperfect progressive
Past
-
taperedsimple
-
had taperedperfect
-
was taperingprogressive
-
were taperingprogressive
-
had been taperingperfect progressive
Future
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
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.
Vocabulary lists containing taper
It's Lit: Hanukkah Words
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List 7
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Hatchet
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Oxford estimates car sales will taper off soon and fall short of the 16 million mark in 2026, compared with 16.2 million new vehicles sold in 2025.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
After suffering the loss of her child, journalist Esme Saleh leaned into her creative side, painting folk art-inspired taper candles as a way to move forward.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Also, we would reassess if we see demand for AI services taper off.
From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026
The overall rate of inflation tends to slow down once oil prices taper off.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 9, 2026
When he opened the door, he found Tomard with an upraised fist, and Cayn with a taper in hand.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
TYG could be comparatively well positioned if the recent surge in oil prices tapers off, as futures markets suggest is probable.
From Barron's ● Apr. 3, 2026
The conversation between Tisch and Epstein tapers off in the summer of 2014, the same year Tisch started publicly dating a Los Angeles-based designer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026
The economy is likely to expand this year by an above-average rate of 2.8%, the IMF forecast, before growth tapers off to 2% in 2026.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2025
Contrary to earlier assumptions that the asteroid came from the south, their analysis shows the SPA basin tapers toward the south, meaning the asteroid likely arrived from the north.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 12, 2025
Lord Vdaryon's shining Pride of Driftmark was trying to turn, but the demon ran a lazy green finger across her silvery oars and they flared up like so many tapers.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
A private gauge showed China’s manufacturing activity grew at a slower pace in June due to tapered factory production, diverging from a pickup shown in a competing index.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
According to the simulations, this low-angle impact explains the basin's distinctive elongated and tapered shape.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 22, 2026
With each stride, I squirmed deeper into the Florsheims’ tapered toes in a vain effort to spare my chafing heels.
From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026
Even as oil prices’ assent tapered off Monday afternoon, gasoline prices at the retail pump remain elevated.
From Barron's ● Apr. 13, 2026
The weather was growing hotter as the rains tapered off.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
For decades, the city hosted several a year, but the practice began tapering off in the late 1960s.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026
Some looked almost identical to the classic “toothpick grooves” of fossil humans, complete with fine parallel scratches and tapering shapes.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 8, 2026
Flood had previously warned that CTA buying was tapering off.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 27, 2026
On Saturday, Ventura County could see wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph, and isolated gusts of 40 mph, starting in the mid-morning and tapering off later in the afternoon.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 2026
The second floor, essentially an attic, was even narrower than the first, the house tapering under a slanted roof.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
