tap·er

verb

/ˈteɪpə(r)/

/ˈteɪpər/

[intransitive, transitive]

Verb Forms

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/

Phrasal Verbs

to become gradually narrower; to make something become gradually narrower（使）逐渐变窄
- The tail tapered to a rounded tip.尾部越来越细，最后成了个圆尖。
- The leaves are long, tapering to a point at each end.叶子很长，两端逐渐变细。
- taper something The pots are wide at the base and tapered at the top.这些壶底部粗，顶部细。
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.

tap·er

noun

/ˈteɪpə(r)/

/ˈteɪpər/

a long, thin piece of wood, paper, etc. that is used for lighting fires or lamps（点火或灯用的）木条，纸媒
- She lit the gas with a taper.她用蜡烛点燃了煤气灯。
a long, thin candle细长蜡烛
[usually singular] the way that something gradually decreases in size, becoming thinner渐减；逐渐缩小（或变细）

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.