taper

Word family

ta·per1 /ˈteɪpə $ -ər/ verb [intransitiveI, transitiveT] → tapir

1 NARROWto become gradually narrower towards one end, or to make something become narrower at one end （使）一端逐渐变得细小

taper to

His wide chest tapers to a small waist.

他胸膛宽阔，到腰部逐渐收细。

2 taper off phrasal verbphr v LESSto decrease gradually 逐渐变少，逐渐减弱

Profits may be tapering off in the near future.

在不久的将来利润可能会逐渐减少。

Examples from the Corpus

taper off• Towards sunset, the rain began to taper off.

—tapering adjectiveadj

long tapering fingers

尖长的手指

Examples from the Corpus

taper• The cue maker then carefully chooses and seasons the wood, before tapering and sanding it down on a lathe.• All the small buttocks somehow showed and, below that, the small muscled legs and tapering bare feet.• Ideally, they should be trimmed to form an A-shape with the sides tapering in slightly towards the top.• The human spine tapers off at its base.• Perhaps the expansion can continue and possibly it will one day taper off in benign fashion.• Political violence tapered off significantly as the election approached.• The walls are 7 feet thick at the base and taper to 28 inches at the top.• The girl's forehead was broad, tapering to a delicate chin.• The leaves are bright green and taper to a point at the tip.• Six feet tall, he was in his forties, had a long bony face tapering to a pointed jaw.• In the north the island is six miles across, but it tapers to two in the south.• The jeans taper towards the ankle.

Related topics: Household, Technology

taper2 noun [countableC]

1 DHa very thin candle 细蜡烛

small boys holding lighted tapers

拿着点燃的细蜡烛的小男孩

2 TBURNa piece of string covered in wax, used for lighting lamps, candles etc 〔点灯、点蜡烛等用的〕点火蜡线，火媒

The box contained a taper to light each firework.

盒子里装了根火媒，用来点燃每一个烟花。

Examples from the Corpus

taper• There was a scrape as she brought a taper forth from a tin box and leaned towards the fire to light it.• Now that there is a taper, they complain just as loudly.• John twisted soft iron wire around some thick dowelling, whittled to a taper, to make candleholders.• Many of these changes have centred on what are called tapers.• It meant three or four degrees of taper on most surfaces, cylindrical surfaces slightly conical.• The servants came scurrying with new brooms and pails; taper boys ran to replenish the wall-sconces.• Outside the cold wind snuffed the taper out.

Origin taper2

Old English tapor, taper “thin candle”

ta·per1 verbtaper2 noun

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus