English Explanatory Dictionary

taper

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A slender wax candle.
  2. A small light.
  3. A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness and/or cross section in an elongated object.
  4. The portion of an object with such a form.
  5. Ellipsis of machine taper.
  6. A long wick or thin stick used for transferring flames to candles, now usually chemically-treated to burn particularly slowly.
  7. A cone-shaped item for stretching the hole for an ear gauge (piercing).
  8. Gradual reduction over time.
verb
  1. To make thinner or narrower at one end.
  2. To become thinner or narrower at one end.
  3. To diminish gradually.
  4. To tighten monetary policy.
adj
  1. Tapered; narrowing to a point.
noun
  1. One who operates a tape machine.
  2. Someone who works with tape or tapes.

Pronunciation

/ˈteɪpə/ /ˈteɪpɚ/ en-us-taper.ogg en-au-taper.ogg

Word forms

taper tapers tapering tapered

Etymology

From Middle English taper, from Old English tapor (“taper, candle, wick of a lamp”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Latin papyrus (“papyrus", used in Mediaeval times to mean "wick of a candle”). If so, it is a doublet of papyrus. Alternatively, of Celtic origin related to Irish tapar (“taper”), Welsh tampr (“a taper, torch”); further compare Sanskrit तपती (tápati, “(it) warms, gives out heat, is hot; (it) heats”). More at tepid. First attested before the 12th c.

Synonyms

spill match spunk narrow

Derived words

critical taper hag-taper high taper Luer taper machine taper Morse taper multitaper nanotaper taperbearer taper candle taperer taper fade taperless taperlike tapermaker taperness taper pin taperstick tapertail taperwise time-taper taper off
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