taper
verb/ˈteɪpə(r)/
/ˈteɪpər/
[intransitive, transitive]Verb Forms
Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they taper | /ˈteɪpə(r)/ /ˈteɪpər/ |
| he / she / it tapers | /ˈteɪpəz/ /ˈteɪpərz/ |
| past simple tapered | /ˈteɪpəd/ /ˈteɪpərd/ |
| past participle tapered | /ˈteɪpəd/ /ˈteɪpərd/ |
| -ing form tapering | /ˈteɪpərɪŋ/ /ˈteɪpərɪŋ/ |
- to become gradually narrower; to make something become gradually narrower
- The tail tapered to a rounded tip.
- The leaves are long, tapering to a point at each end.
- taper something The pots are wide at the base and tapered at the top.
Word OriginOld 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.
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taper