taper

Meanings

Noun

• A slender wax candle; a small lighted wax candle
• A small light.
• A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness and/or cross section in an elongated object
• A thin stick used for lighting candles, either a wax-coated wick or a slow-burning wooden rod.
• One who operates a tape machine.
• Someone who works with tape or tapes.

Verb

• To make thinner or narrower at one end.
• To diminish gradually.
• (of a central bank) To tighten monetary policy.

Adjective

• Tapered; narrowing to a point.

Related

Similar words

• narrow

Origin

• From Middle English taper, from Old English tapor ("taper, candle, wick of a lamp"), of Unknown origin. Perhaps from Latin papyrus ("papyrus", used in Mediaeval times to mean "wick of a candle"). If so, it is a papyrus, and paper. Alternatively, of Celtic origin related to Irish tapar ("taper"), Welsh tampr ("a taper, torch"); further compare Sanskrit तपती ("(it) warms, gives out heat, is hot; (it) heats"). More at tepid.
• tape + -er