taper
A slender wax candleA slender wax candle.
» He tapered off to one cigarette a day.
Er reduzierte sich auf eine Zigarette pro Tag.
Он снизил потребление до одной сигареты в день.
Meaning
9 sensesA slender wax candle.
dünne Wachskerze, Kerze, Leuchterkerze
то́нкая све́чкаtónkaja svéčka, све́чкаsvéčka
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
(broadly)A small light.
A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness and/or cross section in an elongated object.
the taper of a spire
The legs of the table had a slight taper to them.
Verjüngung, Kegel, Abschrägung
суже́ниеsužénije
The portion of an object with such a form.
ensuring the cleanliness of the taper of a machine tool spindle or of a tool shank
(historical)A long wick or thin stick used for transferring flames to candles, now usually chemically-treated to burn particularly slowly.
A cone-shaped item for stretching the hole for an ear gauge (piercing).
(figuratively)Gradual reduction over time.
a drug taper
One who operates a tape machine.
Someone who works with tape or tapes.
Examples
10 sentencesHe tapered off to one cigarette a day.
ruОн снизил потребление до одной сигареты в день.
deEr reduzierte sich auf eine Zigarette pro Tag.
Mary has delicate pale tapering hands.
He needed to taper off venlafaxine.
deEr musste Venlafaxin allmählich absetzen.
I want it tapered in the back.
A single taper lit the entire room.
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English taper, from Old English tapor (“taper, candle, wick of a lamp”), of unFrom Middle English taper, from Old English tapor (“taper, candle, wick of a lamp”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Latin papyrus (“papyrus", used in Mediaeval times to mean "wick of a candle”); If so, it is a doublet of papyrus; but compare Old French taper (“taper, slender candle or light”). Alternatively, of Celtic origin related to Irish tapar (“taper”), Welsh tampr (“a taper, torch”); further compare Sanskrit तपती (tápati, “(it) warms, gives out heat, is hot; (it) heats”). More at tepid. First attested before the 12th c.
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