taper

About 1.39 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun A slender wax candle.
2. noun A small light.
3. noun A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness and/or cross section in an elongated object.

   the taper of a spire

4. noun 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

5. noun Ellipsis of machine taper.
6. noun A long wick or thin stick used for transferring flames to candles, now usually chemically-treated to burn particularly slowly.
7. noun A cone-shaped item for stretching the hole for an ear gauge (piercing).
8. noun Gradual reduction over time.

   a drug taper

Similar words

candle wick sharpen point wax light tape acuminate scroll thin reduction

Often followed by

off to of in and is the from at

Word family

tapered tapering tapers