taper

Meaning

Noun

1. A slender wax candle.
2. (broadly) A small light.
3. A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness and/or cross section in an elongated object.
4. The portion of an object with such a form.
5. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of machine taper.
6. A thin stick used for lighting candles, either a wax-coated wick or a slow-burning wooden rod.
7. A cone-shaped item for stretching the hole for an ear gauge (piercing).
8. (figuratively) Gradual reduction over time.

Verb

1. (transitive) To make thinner or narrower at one end.
2. (intransitive) To become thinner or narrower at one end.
3. (ambitransitive) To diminish gradually.
4. (intransitive) To tighten monetary policy.

Adj

Tapered; narrowing to a point.

Synonyms

candle

🕯️

narrow

cone

point

sharpen

wax light

decrease

wick

diminish

pyramid

cone-shaped

contract

deduct

detract

dock

downsize

dwindle

expense

fastigiate

grade

hold down

inclination

lessen

limit

narrowing

penetrator

pineal

plug

primer

rake

rationalise

rationalize

reduce

shrink

slope

spunk

subtract

subulate

take in

tapered

throttle

tightened

tinder

touchwood

trim

wane

weaken

factor out

trim back

basiconic

Translations

Verjüngung

spitz zulaufen

effiler

zuspitzen

manipulador

rastremare

waskaars

candela

tailler en pointe

cereus

chandelle

🅰️

dünne Wachskerze

cierge

κερί

abschrägen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈteɪpə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: taper

Inherited from Old English: tapor

Cognate with Irish: tapar

Cognate with Welsh: tampr

Cognate with Sanskrit: तपती

In summary

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.