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
1
: progressively narrowed toward one end
2
: furnished with or adjusted to a scale : graduated
taper freight rates
Synonyms
Examples of taper in a Sentence
Verb
leaves that taper to a point
you'll find the symptoms begin tapering gradually about 24 hours after you take the medicine
Recent Examples on the Web
Maureen Salamon, Verywell Health, 10 Apr. 2024
Unlike a typical breakwater, which amounts to a pile of rocks, the Living Breakwater has shallow tidal pools, and fingers that gradually taper into deeper water, creating multiple habitat realms for marine food chains — hatchling fish, lobsters, larger fish, seals.
—Bill Kearney, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
The clinic tapered her off the medication without her consent and ejected her from its care.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 26 Mar. 2024
Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Stabilizing Interest Rates And Borrowing Costs
The Fed's decision to leave rate cuts on the table and begin tapering QT indicates a shift in their approach to their 2% inflation target.
—Dan Irvine, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Light rain or widespread showers can last much of the day, particularly east of Interstate 95 before tapering in the afternoon or evening.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Made up of about two dozen meticulous braids, her cornrows start out tapered at her hairline, thickening a bit along her head, and coming together at the nape of her neck before dangling several gorgeous feet.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 18 Mar. 2024
The snow -- in some places a mix of snow, rain and even some sleet -- is on track to taper and exit the DMV from west to east between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.
—Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024
Similar to many programs that tapered with the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, Pfizer now distributes the drug.
—Ken Alltucker, The Courier-Journal, 10 Jan. 2024
Justin Taylor, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
Weight forward, which refers to a line’s taper, makes a floating line even easier to cast.
—Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
But my favorite corner of the Buckhorn is the bar, with its dripping taper candles and bartender, Sam Seidenberg, mixing drinks behind the counter.
—Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2024
Express forecast Today: Steady rain tapers early, then scattered lighter showers.
—Molly Robey, Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2024
Hialeah Fire Rescue Paramedic Roly Medina told WSVN rescue crews found the dog wedged in the building tapers, facing the opposite way.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024
The most popular shovel blade shape is round, but square and taper shovels have their benefits.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023
This gorgeous hourglass pillar candle combines the look of a taper candle and holder all in one for the perfect centerpiece.
—Taylor Gumm, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2024
American Eagle’s take gets the tailoring just right, offering skinny thighs with a slim taper through the legs.
—Jake Smith, Glamour, 30 Jan. 2024
Anne Loreto Cruz, Bon Appétit, 8 Feb. 2024
Tall taper candles that loom over your head at dinner?
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 15 Dec. 2023
This set of taper flameless candles by Luminara come in at 9.75 inches tall and feature LED lights that flicker to resemble a traditional candle flame.
—Addie Morton, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Break Out All the Candles
For a rehearsal dinner or intimate indoor reception, this fresh green garland accented with simple pillar candles, taper candles, and mini white pumpkins makes an elegant statement.
—Molly Miller, House Beautiful, 29 July 2023
To take it a step further, color coordinate your items, bring pillows or seat cushions, and light some taper candles.
—Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2023
Verb
To avoid this, the dose would need to be gradually tapered over weeks or months under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
—Maureen Salamon, Verywell Health, 10 Apr. 2024
Unlike a typical breakwater, which amounts to a pile of rocks, the Living Breakwater has shallow tidal pools, and fingers that gradually taper into deeper water, creating multiple habitat realms for marine food chains — hatchling fish, lobsters, larger fish, seals.
—Bill Kearney, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
The clinic tapered her off the medication without her consent and ejected her from its care.
—Lev Facher, STAT, 26 Mar. 2024
Forbes is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Stabilizing Interest Rates And Borrowing Costs
The Fed's decision to leave rate cuts on the table and begin tapering QT indicates a shift in their approach to their 2% inflation target.
—Dan Irvine, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Light rain or widespread showers can last much of the day, particularly east of Interstate 95 before tapering in the afternoon or evening.
—Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Made up of about two dozen meticulous braids, her cornrows start out tapered at her hairline, thickening a bit along her head, and coming together at the nape of her neck before dangling several gorgeous feet.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 18 Mar. 2024
The snow -- in some places a mix of snow, rain and even some sleet -- is on track to taper and exit the DMV from west to east between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.
—Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024
Similar to many programs that tapered with the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, Pfizer now distributes the drug.
—Ken Alltucker, The Courier-Journal, 10 Jan. 2024
Noun
The music was tight, buoyant, punk-inflected, and exploratory enough to explain what the tapers were doing there.
—Justin Taylor, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2024
Weight forward, which refers to a line’s taper, makes a floating line even easier to cast.
—Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024
But my favorite corner of the Buckhorn is the bar, with its dripping taper candles and bartender, Sam Seidenberg, mixing drinks behind the counter.
—Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2024
Express forecast Today: Steady rain tapers early, then scattered lighter showers.
—Molly Robey, Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2024
Hialeah Fire Rescue Paramedic Roly Medina told WSVN rescue crews found the dog wedged in the building tapers, facing the opposite way.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 8 Jan. 2024
The most popular shovel blade shape is round, but square and taper shovels have their benefits.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023
This gorgeous hourglass pillar candle combines the look of a taper candle and holder all in one for the perfect centerpiece.
—Taylor Gumm, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2024
American Eagle’s take gets the tailoring just right, offering skinny thighs with a slim taper through the legs.
—Jake Smith, Glamour, 30 Jan. 2024
Adjective
Instead, grab a few pairs of these taper candles that are hand painted with tiny bows.
—Anne Loreto Cruz, Bon Appétit, 8 Feb. 2024
Tall taper candles that loom over your head at dinner?
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appétit, 15 Dec. 2023
This set of taper flameless candles by Luminara come in at 9.75 inches tall and feature LED lights that flicker to resemble a traditional candle flame.
—Addie Morton, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2023
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Break Out All the Candles
For a rehearsal dinner or intimate indoor reception, this fresh green garland accented with simple pillar candles, taper candles, and mini white pumpkins makes an elegant statement.
—Molly Miller, House Beautiful, 29 July 2023
To take it a step further, color coordinate your items, bring pillows or seat cushions, and light some taper candles.
—Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'taper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English tapor candle, wick, perhaps modification of Latin papyrus papyrus
Noun (2)
First Known Use
Verb
1610, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun (2)
circa 1920, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of taper was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing taper
Dictionary Entries Near taper
Cite this Entry
“Taper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taper. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
taper
1 of 2 noun
ta·per
ˈtā-pər 
1
a
: a long waxed wick used especially for lighting lamps, pipes, or fires
b
: a slender candle
2
a
: a tapering form or figure
b
: gradual lessening of thickness, diameter, or width in a long object
c
: a gradual decrease
taper
2 of 2 verb
tapered; tapering
ˈtā-p(ə-)riŋ
1
: to make or become gradually smaller toward one end
2
: to become gradually less and less
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