taper

verb

/ˈteɪpə(r)/

/ˈteɪpər/

[intransitive, transitive]

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they taper	/ˈteɪpə(r)/ /ˈteɪpər/
he / she / it tapers	/ˈteɪpəz/ /ˈteɪpərz/
past simple tapered	/ˈteɪpəd/ /ˈteɪpərd/
past participle tapered	/ˈteɪpəd/ /ˈteɪpərd/
-ing form tapering	/ˈteɪpərɪŋ/ /ˈteɪpərɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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to become gradually narrower; to make something become gradually narrower
- The tail tapered to a rounded tip.
- The leaves are long, tapering to a point at each end.
- taper something The pots are wide at the base and tapered at the top.
Word OriginOld English (denoting any wax candle), dissimilated form (by alteration of p- to t-) of Latin papyrus (from Greek papuros), the pith of which was used for candle wicks.

taper

noun

/ˈteɪpə(r)/

/ˈteɪpər/

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a long, thin piece of wood, paper, etc. that is used for lighting fires or lamps
- She lit the gas with a taper.
a long, thin candle
[usually singular] the way that something gradually decreases in size, becoming thinner

Word OriginOld English (denoting any wax candle), dissimilated form (by alteration of p- to t-) of Latin papyrus (from Greek papuros), the pith of which was used for candle wicks.