taper

(tā'pər)
n.

1. A small or very slender candle.
2. A long wax-coated wick used to light candles or gas lamps.
3. A source of feeble light.
4. 1. A gradual decrease in thickness or width of an elongated object.
   2. A gradual decrease, as in action or force.

v., -pered, -per·ing, -pers.

v.intr.

1. To become gradually narrower or thinner toward one end.
2. To diminish or lessen gradually. Often used with off: The storm finally tapered off.

v.tr.

1. To make thinner or narrower at one end.
2. To make smaller gradually.

adj.
Gradually decreasing in size toward a point.

[Middle English, from Old English tapor, possibly ultimately from Latin papyrus, papyrus (sometimes used for candlewicks). See paper.]

taperingly ta'per·ing·ly adv.

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noun

The act or process of decreasing: abatement, curtailment, cut, cutback, decrease, decrement, diminishment, diminution, drain, reduction, slash, slowdown. See increase/decrease.

verb

To grow or cause to grow gradually less. abate, decrease, diminish, drain, dwindle, ebb, lessen, let up, peter (out), rebate, reduce, tail away (or off). See increase/decrease.

A gradual diminution of thickness in an elongated object, as in a spire.

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IN BRIEF: To make or become gradually smaller at one end.

For three days after death, hair and fingernails continue to grow but phone calls taper off. — Johnny Carson, American entertainer

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n

A process of shaping a clasp arm the better to distribute flexure throughout its length, thus reducing fatigue, strain hardening, and resultant fracture.

For a list of words related to taper, see:

• Decorations, Ornaments, and Symbolic Objects - taper: squat, round candle used for religious observance

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See words rhyming with "taper."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Taper.

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - spidse, smalne, mindske, skære ned
v. intr. - løbe ud i en spids, aftage i tykkelse, tilspidse
v. tr. - spidse
adj. - konisk, tilspidset, tynd, kegleformet

idioms:

• taper off    mindske gradvis, skære ned

Nederlands (Dutch)
spits toelopen, dunne waskaars

Français (French)
n. - bougie fine (pour allumer les cierges), (Relig) cierge
v. intr. - se resserrer, s'effiler, finir en fuseau, se terminer en pointe
v. tr. - tailler en pointe, fuseler, effiler, terminer en pointe
adj. - effilé, en pointe

idioms:

• taper off    se taire peu à peu (le bruit), aller en diminuant, s'estomper, s'effilocher

Deutsch (German)
v. - spitz zulaufen, sich verjüngen, verjüngen, abnehmen
n. - Wachskerze
adj. - konisch

idioms:

• taper off    spitz zulaufen, sich verjüngen, abnehmen

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - στενεύω στη μια άκρη, λιγοστεύω
n. - αγιοκέρι, λαμπάδα, βαθμιαίο στένεμα

idioms:

• taper off    ελαττώνω/-ομαι βαθμιαία, μετριάζω/περιορίζω

Italiano (Italian)
candela, assottigliare

idioms:

• taper off    finire a punta

Português (Portuguese)
v. - adelgaçar-se, afilar-se
n. - vela (f) fina e comprida

idioms:

• taper off    terminar em ponta, afinar

Русский (Russian)
тонкая свеча

idioms:

• taper off    сужать(ся); сузить(ся)

Español (Spanish)
n. - vela, cirio, estrechamiento
v. intr. - adelgazarse, afilarse, ahusarse, estrecharse gradualmente hasta rematar en punta, ir cesando
v. tr. - disminuir gradualmente
adj. - cónico, piramidal, afilado, que disminuye gradualmente

idioms:

• taper off    disminuir

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - smalna av, göra spetsigare, minska, skära ner, knappa in
n. - smalt ljus, spira, spets, avsmalning, avtagande

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
逐渐变得尖细, 逐渐变弱, 逐渐减少, 细蜡烛, 逐渐变细, 成锥形, 使逐渐变细, 使成锥形, 使逐渐减少, 尖细的, 分等级的

idioms:

• taper off    逐渐变细, 逐渐停止

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 逐漸變得尖細, 逐漸變弱, 逐漸減少, 細蠟燭
v. intr. - 逐漸變細, 成錐形, 逐漸減少, 逐漸變弱
v. tr. - 使逐漸變細, 使成錐形, 使逐漸減少
adj. - 尖細的, 分等級的

idioms:

• taper off    逐漸變細, 逐漸停止

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 차차 줄기, 끝이 가늘어지기
v. intr. - 뾰죽하게 하다, (양 등을)차차 줄이다
v. tr. - 끝이 점점 가늘어지다
adj. - 끝이 가는

idioms:

• taper off    (폭풍 등이) 점점 소멸하다

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 小ろうそく, ろう引きの灯芯, 先細の形, こて, 先細り, 逓減, テープに記録した, テープ
v. - 先細にする, 次第に減らす
adj. - 先細の, 逓減的に類別された

idioms:

• taper off    次第にやむ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يتناقص تدريجيا (الاسم) فتيل طويل مكسو بالشمع‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮היצרות, הפחתה הדרגתית בעובי, נר דקיק‬
v. intr. - ‮התחדד, השתחז והלך, ירד בהדרגה בעובי‬
v. tr. - ‮הצר, טירז‬
adj. - ‮הולך וצר, מיותד, טריזי‬

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