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)
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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
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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:
The Guardian says the Budget will see the controversial "cliff-edge" rule abolished, reporting that the chancellor will announce a new digital taper system for the so-called carer's allowance.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026
“At some point, that needs to taper down for the neoclouds to have any value.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
Rain was forecast throughout Sunday for Bangkok and its surrounding provinces and would begin to taper off on Monday, the metropolitan administration said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026
For one, unlike traditional infrastructure booms—which taper off after the initial build-out—AI infrastructure investment is expected to accelerate, according to PwC’ s Global Data Centre Outlook.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
What curious principle demands that a candle flame taper always toward the sky?
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
It tapers as it rises, massive forms jutting out at intervals: winged helmets and alarmingly watchful eagles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026
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 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
In winter, tapers burn in the windows of homes after dark.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
After I came off the bipolar meds, a different medication helped me through a hard year, and when I was ready, I tapered off slowly while working with my doctor.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
Instead, the company cut back on certain discounts, pulled some products from shelves and tapered the availability of others.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
Some have sent a detailed proposal to the department setting out a "tapered" alternative scheme.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
The study "A southward differentiated impactor forms the tapered shape of the South Pole-Aitken impact basin on the Moon" was published in Science Advances.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 22, 2026
The tooth, which was wide at the base, tapered to a wicked point.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
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
There is a precedent for tougher warnings and guidelines for slower tapering.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
The Department of Health and Human Services will also convene a panel to develop guidance for doctors, train staff at federally qualified health centers and roll out training on “psychiatric medication risks, tapering, and deprescribing.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026
Flood had previously warned that CTA buying was tapering off.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 27, 2026
It had horns thick as arms, tapering to wicked points, and it pawed at the ground and tossed its head, a roar rumbling up its metal throat.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
