taper

taper — 動詞

IPA/ˈteɪpə(r)/
KK[tˈepɚ]IPA/ˈteɪpər/
  • 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

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

變細；變窄

一端逐漸變細或變窄

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.

例句

The carpenter shaped the wooden leg so that it tapered toward the bottom.

木匠把木桌腳削成底部較細的形狀。

taper + toward + end point

Wei's dark blue dress trousers taper slightly at the ankle for a clean look.

Wei 的深藍色西裝褲在腳踝處稍微變窄，看起來很俐落。

同義詞
  • narrow

    more general; 'narrow' doesn't specifically imply a gradual change along the length

  • thin

    focuses on the slimming result rather than the gradual process

  • diminish

    more formal, used for both physical width and abstract quantities

反義詞
  • widen

    opposite direction — becoming broader rather than narrower

  • flare

    specifically of shape — becoming wider at one end

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

❌The road tapers sharp at the end.
✅The road tapers sharply at the end.
💡'taper' needs an adverb (sharply, gently), not an adjective (sharp, gentle).
❌The dress tapers in the waist.
✅The dress tapers at the waist.
💡use 'at' not 'in' when specifying the body part where the narrowing happens.

2. if an amount, level, or degree of something tapers, it goes down little by littl

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

逐漸減少

數量或強度逐漸降低

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.

例句

Demand for the old smartphone model tapered off after the new version launched.

新款手機上市後，舊款的需求便逐漸減少。

taper off — phrasal pattern for declining quantity

The doctor said the patient's fever would taper over the next few days.

醫生說病人的發燒會在接下來幾天慢慢退去。

同義詞
  • dwindle

    emphasises a decrease toward nothing; slightly more dramatic

  • diminish

    more formal; can be used for any kind of reduction

  • lessen

    suggests the reduction is partial, not necessarily continuous

反義詞
  • increase

    general opposite — growing in amount or intensity

  • intensify

    becoming stronger rather than weaker

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

❌Sales tapered suddenly last week.
✅Sales tapered off suddenly last week.
💡For reductions in quantity or activity, 'taper off' is much more natural than bare 'taper'.
❌The river tapers after the waterfall.
✅The river narrows after the waterfall.
💡Use 'taper' for gradual change along a length; use 'narrow' for a simple change in width at one spot.

3. to deliberately reduce the amount or intensity of physical training in the days

3.動詞不及物B2
釋義

減量訓練

賽前逐漸減少訓練量

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.

例句

The marathon runner tapered for two weeks before the big race.

那位馬拉松跑者在重要比賽前減量訓練了兩週。

taper + for + duration + before + event

Olympic swimmers often taper their training before major competitions.

奧運游泳選手通常在重大賽事前逐漸減少訓練量。

transitive: taper + their training

同義詞
  • ease off

    less formal; not limited to sports contexts

  • wind down

    implies a relaxed, gradual reduction; can apply to any activity

反義詞
  • 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

❌I tapered my eating before the race.
✅I tapered my training before the race.
💡'taper' in this sense refers to reducing exercise, not food.
❌The team tapered for the exam.
✅The team tapered for the championship.
💡This meaning is restricted to physical competitions, not academic tests.

taper — 名詞

IPA/ˈteɪ.pər/
KK[tˈepɚ]IPA/ˈteɪ.pɚ/

taper — 形容詞