TAPER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does taper mean? 

• TAPER (noun)
  The noun TAPER has 4 senses:

1. a convex shape that narrows toward a point

2. the property possessed by a shape that narrows toward a point (as a wedge or cone)

3. a loosely woven cord (in a candle or oil lamp) that draws fuel by capillary action up into the flame

4. stick of wax with a wick in the middle

  Familiarity information: TAPER used as a noun is uncommon.

• TAPER (verb)
  The verb TAPER has 2 senses:

1. diminish gradually

2. give a point to

  Familiarity information: TAPER used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TAPER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A convex shape that narrows toward a point

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Hypernyms ("taper" is a kind of...):

convex shape; convexity (a shape that curves or bulges outward)

Derivation:

taper (give a point to)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The property possessed by a shape that narrows toward a point (as a wedge or cone)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("taper" is a kind of...):

narrowing (an instance of becoming narrow)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "taper"):

point; pointedness (the property of a shape that tapers to a sharp tip)

unpointedness (the property of having only a dull tip (if any))

Derivation:

taper (give a point to)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A loosely woven cord (in a candle or oil lamp) that draws fuel by capillary action up into the flame

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

taper; wick

Hypernyms ("taper" is a kind of...):

cord (a line made of twisted fibers or threads)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "taper"):

candlewick (the wick of a candle)

Holonyms ("taper" is a part of...):

candle; taper; wax light (stick of wax with a wick in the middle)

kerosene lamp; kerosine lamp; oil lamp (a lamp that burns oil (as kerosine) for light)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Stick of wax with a wick in the middle

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

candle; taper; wax light

Hypernyms ("taper" is a kind of...):

lamp (an artificial source of visible illumination)

Meronyms (parts of "taper"):

taper; wick (a loosely woven cord (in a candle or oil lamp) that draws fuel by capillary action up into the flame)

candlewick (the wick of a candle)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "taper"):

chandlery (candles and other commodities sold by a chandler)

dip (a candle that is made by repeated dipping in a pool of wax or tallow)

rush candle; rushlight (a tallow candle with a rush stem as the wick)

vigil candle; vigil light (a candle lighted by a worshiper in a church)

• TAPER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they taper    ... he / she / it tapers   
Past simple: tapered   
Past participle: tapered   
-ing form: tapering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Diminish gradually

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

Interested tapered off

Hypernyms (to "taper" is one way to...):

decrease; diminish; fall; lessen (decrease in size, extent, or range)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

tapering (the act of gradually lowering the size or amount)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Give a point to

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

point; sharpen; taper

Context example:

The candles are tapered

Hypernyms (to "taper" is one way to...):

change form; change shape; deform (assume a different shape or form)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "taper"):

acuminate (make sharp or acute; taper; make (something) come to a point)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Also:

taper off (become smaller or less active)

taper off (end weakly)

Derivation:

taper (the property possessed by a shape that narrows toward a point (as a wedge or cone))

taper (a convex shape that narrows toward a point)

 Context examples 

The tail tapers and is carried high and alert.

(Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, NCI Thesaurus)

A shape whose base is a circle and whose sides taper up to a point.

(Cone, NCI Thesaurus)

The taper was still on the table, and by its light I glanced to see what the paper was which Brunton had taken from the bureau.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

A measurement of the Helmet cells (specialized Keratocytes with two projections on either end that are tapered and hornlike) in a biological specimen.

(Helmet Cell Count, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

A long, hollow needle with a tapered cutting edge on one end and a handle with a place to attach a syringe on the other end.

(Jamshidi needle, NCI Dictionary)

This species is non-sporulating, has a slender shape with tapered ends and exhibits pleomorphic irregular staining.

(Fusobacterium gonidiaformans, NCI Thesaurus)

An elongated, tapering, generally thick-walled sclerenchyma cell of vascular plants; its walls may or may not be lignified.

(Fiber, Food and Drug Administration)

The cells have broad, non-tapering processes radiating towards a central blood vessel.

(Astroblastoma, NCI Thesaurus)

She lay between us, and the red light; and every taper line and spar was visible against the glow.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

EXAMPLE(S): 200-400; NOTE(S): This is used for more complex dosages such as scaling and tapering doses, uncertain dosage ranges, differing morning and evening doses and other instructions that can't be expressed with a simple PQ.

(Performed Substance Administration Active Ingredient Dose Description, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)