I. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADVERB
off
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Political violence tapered off significantly as the election approached.
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But some economists said they feared productivity might taper off dramatically this year as economic growth declines.
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The killing has tapered off , but many of those abducted have never been found.
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Berry production, which begins in June and continues through October, will taper off in really hot weather.
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The passage was narrower here, tapering off into three turnings.
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Withdrawal symptoms then typically taper off , but it usually takes a full week for a return to normal.
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Perhaps the expansion can continue and possibly it will one day taper off in benign fashion.
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The back bone tapered off to the tail.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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In the north the island is six miles across, but it tapers to two in the south.
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The girl's forehead was broad, tapering to a delicate chin.
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The human spine tapers off at its base.
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The jeans taper towards the ankle.
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The leaves are bright green and taper to a point at the tip.
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The walls are 7 feet thick at the base and taper to 28 inches at the top.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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All the small buttocks somehow showed and, below that, the small muscled legs and tapering bare feet.
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Ideally, they should be trimmed to form an A-shape with the sides tapering in slightly towards the top.
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Perhaps the expansion can continue and possibly it will one day taper off in benign fashion.
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Political violence tapered off significantly as the election approached.
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Six feet tall, he was in his forties, had a long bony face tapering to a pointed jaw.
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The cue maker then carefully chooses and seasons the wood, before tapering and sanding it down on a lathe.
II. noun
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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It meant three or four degrees of taper on most surfaces, cylindrical surfaces slightly conical.
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John twisted soft iron wire around some thick dowelling, whittled to a taper , to make candleholders.
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Many of these changes have centred on what are called tapers.
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Now that there is a taper , they complain just as loudly.
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Outside the cold wind snuffed the taper out.
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The servants came scurrying with new brooms and pails; taper boys ran to replenish the wall-sconces.
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There was a scrape as she brought a taper forth from a tin box and leaned towards the fire to light it.