taper

CEFRB2

/ˈteɪpə/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To become gradually smaller or less.

  2. 02

    noun

    A gradual narrowing or a thin candle.

Examples

  • He needed to taper off venlafaxine.

  • She dissolved like a taper.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
4

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. A small light.

  2. A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness and/or cross section in an elongated object.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. A slender wax candle.

More examples

In context

  • The legs of the table had a slight taper to them.

  • ensuring the cleanliness of the taper of a machine tool spindle or of a tool shank

  • the taper of a spire

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The candle's flame will blank slowly as the wax melts away and the wick burns down.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

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.