taper

³taper

verb

ta·peredta·per·ing\ˈtā-p(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of TAPER

intransitive verb

1

: to become progressively smaller toward one end

2

: to diminish gradually

transitive verb

: to cause to taper

Examples of TAPER

1. leaves that taper to a point
2. <you'll find the symptoms begin tapering gradually about 24 hours after you take the medicine>

First Known Use of TAPER

1610

Related to TAPER

Synonyms: abate, decline, de-escalate, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down) also rachet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, decrease, taper off, wane

Antonyms: accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax

Related Words: compress, condense, constrict, contract; evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish; slacken, slow (down); alleviate, relax; flag, sink, weaken; cave (in), collapse, deflate

Near Antonyms: appear, emerge, show up; blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

[+]more[-]hide