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taper - 8 dictionary results

ta⋅per

1  [tey-per]
Use taper in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to become smaller or thinner toward one end.
2. to grow gradually lean.
–verb (used with object)
3. to make gradually smaller toward one end.
4. to reduce gradually.
–noun
5. gradual diminution of width or thickness in an elongated object.
6. gradual decrease of force, capacity, etc.
7. anything having a tapering form, as a spire or obelisk.
8. a candle, esp. a very slender one.
9. a long wick coated with wax, tallow, or the like, as for use in lighting candles or gas.
—Verb phrase
10. taper off,
a. to become gradually more slender toward one end.
b. to cease by degrees; decrease; diminish: The storm is beginning to taper off now. I haven't stopped smoking entirely, but I'm tapering off to three cigarettes a day.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME: wax candle, OE, var. of tapur, dissimilated var. of *papur paper

Related forms:
ta⋅per⋅er, noun
ta⋅per⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

tap⋅er

2  [tey-per]
–noun
a person who records or edits magnetic tape, videotape, etc.
Origin:
tape + -er 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To taper
ta·per   (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.
    1. A gradual decrease in thickness or width of an elongated object.
    2. A gradual decrease, as in action or force.
v.   ta·pered, ta·per·ing, ta·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.]
ta'per·ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Taper

Ta"per\, n. [AS. tapur, tapor, taper; cf. Ir. tapar, W. tampr.]

1. A small wax candle; a small lighted wax candle; hence, a small light.

Get me a taper in my study, Lucius. --Shak.

2. A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness in an elongated object; as, the taper of a spire.

Taper

Ta"per\, a. [Supposed to be from taper, n., in allusion to its form.] Regularly narrowed toward the point; becoming small toward one end; conical; pyramidical; as, taper fingers.

Taper

Ta"per\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tapered; p. pr. & vb. n. Tapering.] To become gradually smaller toward one end; as, a sugar loaf tapers toward one end.

Taper

Ta"per\, v. t. To make or cause to taper.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : taper
Spanish: cerilla,
German: die Wachskerze,
Japanese: 小ろうそく
More Translations »

taper  (n.)
O.E. tapur, taper "candle," not found outside Eng., possibly a dissimilated borrowing from L. papyrus (see papyrus), which was used in M.L. and some Romance languages for "wick of a candle" (e.g. It. papijo "wick"), since these often were made from the pith of papyrus. Cf. also Ger. kerze "candle," from O.H.G. charza, from L. charta, from Gk. khartes "papyrus, roll made from papyrus, wick made from pith of papyrus." The verb meaning "to shoot up like a flame or spire" is attested from 1589; sense of "gradually decrease in size, force, etc." first recorded 1610.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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