taper
taper — verb
- taperpresent simple I / you / we / they
- tapershe / she / it
- taperedpast simple
- tapering-ing form
1. used when a long object gets steadily thinner or slimmer as you move along it to
used when a long object gets steadily thinner or slimmer as you move along it to the tip or bottom — tree trunks taper toward the top, and well-cut jeans taper at the ankle for a neat fit.
The carpenter shaped the wooden leg so that it tapered toward the bottom.
taper + toward + end point
Wei's dark blue dress trousers taper slightly at the ankle for a clean look.
The mountain trail tapered to a narrow path after the second bridge.
Potters taper a vase's top by pressing the clay inward as it spins.
Old sailing ships had masts that tapered gently toward the top.
文法句型
taper + adverb (to/toward)
taper + object + adverb
用法筆記
Often followed by 'to' or 'toward' plus a noun specifying the narrower endpoint (e.g. 'taper to a point'). Frequently used in descriptions of clothing, tools, and natural shapes.
常見錯誤
2. if an amount, level, or degree of something tapers, it goes down little by littl
if an amount, level, or degree of something tapers, it goes down little by little over a stretch of time rather than all at once — for example, public interest in a news story fades after a few weeks, or the noise from a party dies down late at night.
Demand for the old smartphone model tapered off after the new version launched.
taper off — phrasal pattern for declining quantity
The doctor said the patient's fever would taper over the next few days.
Government funding for the research project began to taper as the economy slowed.
Noise from the building site tapered by late afternoon, letting the neighbours rest.
文法句型
taper + adverb (off/gradually)
taper off
用法筆記
Commonly used as 'taper off' (especially in informal or general contexts). The subject is typically something non-physical — demand, interest, funding, noise, or pain.
常見錯誤
3. to deliberately reduce the amount or intensity of physical training in the days
to deliberately reduce the amount or intensity of physical training in the days or weeks before an important competition, so the body can rest and perform at its best.
The marathon runner tapered for two weeks before the big race.
taper + for + duration + before + event
Olympic swimmers often taper their training before major competitions.
transitive: taper + their training
Coach Torres told the team they would taper their workouts ahead of the finals.
Sprinters who taper too early may lose some of their racing sharpness.
- intensify
opposite — increasing the difficulty or amount of training
文法句型
taper + before + event
taper + for + duration
用法筆記
Nearly always used in sports training contexts. The subject is an athlete or a coach; the implicit or explicit object is 'training' or 'workouts'. Not used for diet, study, or non-athletic preparation.
常見錯誤
taper — noun
- tapersingular
- tapersplural
1. a slim wax candle, or a narrow slip of wood or paper with a wax coating, that pe
a slim wax candle, or a narrow slip of wood or paper with a wax coating, that people once used to carry a flame from one fire or candle to another — a common household tool in the days before matches existed.
The dining table was lit by a row of tall white tapers in silver holders.
Elena used a long taper to light the candles on the birthday cake.
use a taper to light + object
Before electricity, people carried a taper to light their way through dark hallways.
A single taper burned on the bedside table, casting a warm glow across the room.
文法句型
a + taper
taper + verb (burns, lights)
用法筆記
Distinguishable from a regular candle by its slenderness and its typical use as a lighting tool rather than a source of sustained illumination. In modern contexts, long thin candles are still called tapers when sold in pairs for candlesticks.
常見錯誤
2. the quality or shape of an object that becomes gradually narrower from one end t
the quality or shape of an object that becomes gradually narrower from one end to the other — for example, the way a pencil narrows toward its tip, or the way a pair of trousers gets slimmer from the knee to the ankle.
The carpenter checked the taper of the chair leg to ensure a snug fit.
the taper of + object
These trousers have a slight taper from the knee down to the ankle.
Architects calculate the taper of a column to maintain visual balance in a building.
A gentle taper at the rod's end stops the curtain rings from slipping off.
- narrowing
more general; 'narrowing' can describe any reduction in width anywhere along an object
- diminution
formal technical term; rarely used outside specialist writing
- conicity
very technical; used in mathematics and engineering for cone-like shapes
- flare
opposite shape — widening rather than narrowing at one end
文法句型
the taper of + noun
a + adjective + taper
用法筆記
Can be either countable ('a gentle taper') or uncountable ('the taper of the leg'). Common in clothing, woodworking, and engineering descriptions.
常見錯誤
taper — adjective
- taperpositive
- taperercomparative
- taperestsuperlative
1. describing an object whose width or thickness becomes progressively smaller towa
describing an object whose width or thickness becomes progressively smaller toward one end — such as a conical brush tip, a pair of fitted trousers, or a candle that is wider at the base than at the top.
The tailor recommended a tapered fit for the suit trousers.
tapered fit — common in fashion/ clothing
Tanya's dress had a tapered waistline that flared slightly at the hips.
The artist used a brush with a tapered tip for the finest details.
Tapered candles fit more securely into narrow holders than wide ones do.
文法句型
tapered + noun
用法筆記
The adjective form is almost always 'tapered' rather than 'taper'. Use 'tapered' attributively (before the noun) for describing objects that have been shaped or designed with a gradual narrowing.