taper
1 of 4verb
ta·per ˈtā-pər 
tapered; tapering ˈtā-p(ə-)riŋ
intransitive verb
1
: to become progressively smaller toward one end
2
: to diminish gradually
transitive verb
: to cause to taper
taper
2 of 4noun (1)
1
a
: a slender candle
b
: a long waxed wick used especially for lighting candles, lamps, pipes, or fires
c
: a feeble light
2
a
: a tapering form or figure
b
: gradual diminution of thickness, diameter, or width in an elongated object
c
: a gradual decrease
taper
3 of 4adjective
1
: progressively narrowed toward one end
2
: furnished with or adjusted to a scale : graduated
taper freight rates
taper
4 of 4noun (2)
tap·er ˈtā-pər
: one that applies or dispenses tape
Synonyms
Verb
- abate
- de-escalate
- decline
- decrease
- die (away or down or out)
- diminish
- drain (away)
- drop (off)
- dwindle
- ease
- ebb
- fall
- fall away
- lessen
- let up
- lower
- moderate
- pall
- phase down
- ratchet (down)
- rachet (down)
- recede
- relent
- remit
- shrink
- subside
- taper off
- wane
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb leaves that taper to a point you'll find the symptoms begin tapering gradually about 24 hours after you take the medicine
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English tapor candle, wick, perhaps modification of Latin papyrus papyrus
Noun (2)
tape entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
1610, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
circa 1920, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing taper
Kids Definition
taper 1 of 2
noun
ta·per ˈtā-pər
1
: a slender candle
2
: a gradual lessening in thickness or width in a long object
taper
2 of 2verb
tapered; tapering
1
: to make or become gradually smaller toward one end
The leaves taper to a point.
2
: to grow gradually less and less
The rain tapered off.
tapered 1 of 2
adjective
as in stepped
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- stepped
- gradual
- phased
- gradational
- piecemeal
- progressive
- incremental
- imperceptible
- inching
- decrescent
- step-by-step
- increscent
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- abrupt
- sudden
- sharp
- discontinuous
- acute
- dynamic
- saltatory
- volatile
- changeable
- meteoric
tapered
2 of 2verb
as in decreased
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually you'll find the symptoms begin tapering gradually about 24 hours after you take the medicine Synonyms & Similar Words
- decreased
- subsided
- diminished
- fell
- eased
- shrunk
- vanished
- tapered off
- shrank
- lowered
- ebbed
- declined
- moderated
- fell away
- receded
- waned
- compressed
- weakened
- remitted
- dwindled
- palled
- lessened
- phased down
- relented
- constricted
- dropped (off)
- evaporated
- racheted (down)
- abated
- condensed
- let up
- ratcheted (down)
- drained (away)
- relaxed
- contracted
- de-escalated
- died (away or down or out)
- slackened
- collapsed
- alleviated
- gave out
- tailed (off)
- petered (out)
- frittered (away)
- flagged
- melted (away)
- faded (away)
- sunk
- slowed (down)
- deflated
- sank
- caved (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- increased
- built
- mounted
- expanded
- enlarged
- rose
- grew
- waxed
- intensified
- mushroomed
- accumulated
- swelled
- ballooned
- soared
- escalated
- appeared
- elongated
- emerged
- burgeoned
- lengthened
- snowballed
- picked up
- bourgeoned
- distended
- blew up
- showed up