/ ˈteɪpə(r); NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
to become gradually narrower; to make sth become gradually narrower :
[ v ]
The tail tapered to a rounded tip.
[ vn ]
The pots are wide at the base and tapered at the top.
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PHRASAL VERBS
- taper off
- taper sth off
■ noun
1.
a long thin piece of wood, paper, etc. that is used for lighting fires or lamps
2.
a long thin candle
3.
[ usually sing. ] the way that sth gradually decreases in size, becoming thinner
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English (denoting any wax candle), dissimilated form (by alteration of p- to t- ) of Latin papyrus (from Greek papuros ), the pith of which was used for candle wicks.