taper
verb/ˈteɪpər/
Frequency rank: #9,591 most common English word
Meaning
to gradually become thinner or smaller toward one end; to decrease slowly.
Example sentence
The candle began to taper as the night grew longer.
Synonyms & related words
Practice this word in the quiz
More words in ranks 9,501–9,600
- stabilizationthe process of making something stable or steady
- starcha white carbohydrate found in foods like potatoes and rice, also used to stiffen fabric.
- stonycovered with or full of stones; hard and showing no emotion.
- subtlyIn a way that is so slight or indirect that it is not immediately obvious.
- surfera person who rides ocean waves on a surfboard as a sport or hobby.
- teaspoonA small spoon used for stirring; the amount it holds.
- toxina poisonous substance produced by a living organism or released by certain chemicals
- typoA small mistake made while typing, such as a wrong or missing letter.
- unequalnot equal; different in size, amount, or quality.
- unresolvednot yet settled or solved; still uncertain or unclear.