taper
B2Formal, Technical, Everyday (depending on context)
Definition
Meaning
To become gradually narrower, thinner, or less intense.
1. To gradually reduce the amount, degree, or intensity of something. 2. A slender candle. 3. A gradual narrowing or thinning shape.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes a process of gradual, linear reduction. In context of stopping medication or a habit, it implies a controlled, medically supervised reduction to avoid negative effects.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning. 'Tapered trousers' is common in UK fashion vocabulary; US may prefer 'tapered legs' or 'skinny fit'.
Connotations
Largely identical. In business, 'tapering' often refers to central bank policy in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency. Slightly more common in technical/medical contexts in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] tapers (off)[NP] tapers [NP] (e.g., taper the medication)[NP] is tapered[NP] tapers to [NP] (e.g., tapers to a fine point)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Taper off (to gradually reduce or cease)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a gradual reduction in economic stimulus or quantitative easing by a central bank.
Academic
Used in geometry, design, and sciences to describe shapes that narrow linearly.
Everyday
Commonly used for hair, clothing, candles, and describing how something gradually ends.
Technical
Crucial in medicine/pharmacy for the safe reduction of medication dosage; in engineering for describing shaft or rod profiles.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The road tapers as you approach the old bridge.
- The doctor advised him to taper the steroids over two weeks.
American English
- The rainfall will taper off by evening.
- We need to taper our spending before the holiday season.
adverb
British English
- The shape narrowed taperly towards the apex. (Rare, but possible)
American English
- The blade was ground taperly to a sharp edge. (Rare, but possible)
adjective
British English
- He wore a pair of smart, tapered trousers.
- The column had a beautifully tapered design.
American English
- She bought jeans with a tapered leg.
- The tool has a tapered end for precision work.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The candle is called a taper.
- The tail of the plane is thin and tapers.
- The path tapers near the forest.
- Her interest in the project began to taper off.
- To avoid withdrawal symptoms, you must taper the medication slowly.
- The economic recovery is expected to cause a taper in bond purchases.
- The sculptor expertly tapered the marble to create a sense of fluid movement.
- The central bank's tapering policy signalled confidence in the economy's resilience.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a candle (a TAPER) which is wider at the base and narrows towards the top. The shape TAPERs.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE IS MOTION (a gradual movement towards an end point). INTENSITY IS WIDTH (becoming less intense is like becoming narrower).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить глагол "taper" как "заострять" в значении "делать острым". "Taper" — это именно плавное сужение формы, а не создание острого края (это "sharpen").
- Избегать кальки "сужаться" для всех контекстов. Для интенсивности лучше "ослабевать" или "сходить на нет".
Common Mistakes
- Using "taper" to mean a sudden stop (incorrect: *The meeting tapered abruptly).
- Confusing "taper" with "tape" as a verb (to record).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'taper' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Taper' is transitive or intransitive and focuses on the shape or action of narrowing. 'Taper off' is a phrasal verb used almost exclusively intransitively to mean 'to gradually diminish and cease', especially for intangible things like noise, interest, or rain.
Yes. As a noun, it primarily means 1) a slender candle, or 2) a gradual narrowing (e.g., 'the taper of the spire').
No. Tapering is the controlled, gradual process of reducing dosage before stopping entirely. Stopping abruptly is 'cessation' or 'discontinuation', which can be dangerous with some medications.
It describes clothing, especially trousers or sleeves, that are cut to become progressively narrower from a wider starting point (e.g., from the thigh to the ankle).