taper

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Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Homophones

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old English tapor ‘candle’, apparently from Latin papyrus ‘papyrus’, later ‘wick of a candle’.

[edit] Noun

Singular
taper

Plural
tapers

taper (plural tapers)

  1. A slender wax candle; a small lighted wax candle; hence, a small light.
  2. A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness and/or cross section in an elongated object; as, the taper of a spire.
    The legs of the table had a slight taper to them.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Adjective

taper (not comparable)

Positive
taper

Comparative
not comparable

Superlative
none (absolute)

  1. Regularly narrowed toward the point; becoming small toward one end; as, taper fingers.

[edit] Synonyms

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to taper

Third person singular
tapers

Simple past
tapered

Past participle
tapered

Present participle
tapering

to taper (third-person singular simple present tapers, present participle tapering, simple past and past participle tapered)

  1. (transitive) To make thinner or narrower at one end.
  2. (intransitive) To diminish gradually.

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

From tape.

[edit] Noun

Singular
taper

Plural
tapers

taper (plural tapers)

  1. (weaving) One who operates a tape machine.
  2. Someone who works with tape or tapes.

[edit] French

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Verb

taper

  1. to slap, knock
  2. to type (use a keyboard or typewriter)

[edit] Conjugation

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] See also


[edit] Norwegian Bokmål

[edit] Noun

taper

  1. a loser

[edit] Inflection


[edit] Related terms

[edit] Noun

taper

  1. Indefinite plural of tape

[edit] Verb

taper

  1. Present tense of tape (to lose)
  2. (archaic) present tense of tape (to tape)

[edit] Norwegian Nynorsk

[edit] Verb

taper

  1. present tense of tape (to lose)
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