Adjacent Words

Taper definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

TA'PER, n. A small wax candle; a small lighted wax candle, or a small light.
Get me a taper in my study, Lucius.
TA'PER, a. [supposed to be from the form of a taper.]
Regularly narrowed towards the point; becoming small towards one end; conical; pyramidical; as taper fingers.
TA'PER, v.i. To diminish or become gradually smaller towards one end; as, a sugar loaf tapers towards a point.
TA'PER, v.t. To make gradually smaller in diameter.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a convex shape that narrows toward a point
2: the property possessed by a shape that narrows toward a point (as a wedge or cone)
3: a loosely woven cord (in a candle or oil lamp) that draws fuel by capillary action up into the flame [syn: wick, taper]
4: stick of wax with a wick in the middle [syn: candle, taper, wax light] v
1: diminish gradually; "Interested tapered off"
2: give a point to; "The candles are tapered" [syn: sharpen, taper, point]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tapor candle, wick, perhaps modification of Latin papyrus papyrus Date: before 12th century 1. a. a slender candle b. a long waxed wick used especially for lighting candles, lamps, pipes, or fires c. a feeble light 2. a. a tapering form or figure b. gradual diminution of thickness, diameter, or width in an elongated object c. a gradual decrease II. adjective Date: 15th century 1. progressively narrowed toward one end 2. furnished with or adjusted to a scale ; graduated <taper freight rates> III. verb (tapered; tapering) Date: 1610 intransitive verb 1. to become progressively smaller toward one end 2. to diminish gradually transitive verb to cause to taper IV. noun Etymology: ¹tape Date: circa 1920 one that applies or dispenses tape

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a wick coated with wax etc. for conveying a flame. 2 a slender candle. --v. (often foll. by off) 1 intr. & tr. diminish or reduce in thickness towards one end. 2 tr. & intr. make or become gradually less. Etymology: OE tapur, -or, -er wax candle, f. L PAPYRUS, whose pith was used for candle-wicks

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Taper Ta"per, v. t. To make or cause to taper.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(tapers, tapering, tapered) 1. If something tapers, or if you taper it, it becomes gradually thinner at one end. Unlike other trees, it doesn't taper very much. It stays fat all the way up... Taper the shape of your eyebrows towards the outer corners. VERB: V, V n • tapered ...the elegantly tapered legs of the dressing-table. ADJ 2. If something tapers or is tapered, it gradually becomes reduced in amount, number, or size until it is greatly reduced. There are signs that inflation is tapering... If you take these drugs continuously, withdrawal must be tapered. VERB: V, be V-ed • Taper off means the same as taper. Immigration is expected to taper off... I suggested that we start to taper off the counseling sessions. PHRASAL VERB: V P, V P n (not pron), also V n P 3. A taper is a long, thin candle or a thin wooden strip that is used for lighting fires. N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. Light, small candle, bougie. II. a. Conical, pyramidal, tapering. III. v. a. Make taper, make conical. IV. v. n. Take a conical form, have a conical shape.

Moby Thesaurus

abate, aculeate, acuminate, approach, barb, bate, bayberry candle, bougie, brand, butane lighter, candle, candlewick, center, centralize, cigarette lighter, close, close in, close up, close with, coarctation, come down, come together, concenter, concentralize, concentrate, confine, constrict, constriction, contract, contraction, converge, corpse candle, cuspidate, decline, decrease, diminish, dip, draw in, drop off, dwindle, ebb, edge, electric light bulb, fade, fall in with, fall off, farthing dip, file, fire, firebrand, flambeau, flame, flint, flint and steel, funnel, glim, go down, go in, grind, hone, igniter, illuminant, illuminator, incandescent body, intersect, lamp, lampwick, lantern, lessen, let up, light, light bulb, light source, lighter, limit, luminant, luminary, match, meet, moon, narrow, narrow the gap, narrowing, nip, oilstone, peter out, pinch, plummet, point, portfire, reduce, reset, restrict, run together, rush candle, rushlight, set, sharpen, slacken, slow down, slow up, slump, snape, source of light, sparker, spiculate, spill, spur, stars, straiten, strap, stricture, strop, subside, sun, tallow candle, tallow dip, taper off, tapering, thin, thin out, torch, unite, votary candle, wane, wax candle, weaken, whet, wick, wind down