Taper
['teɪpə] or ['tepɚ]
Definition
(noun.) the property possessed by a shape that narrows toward a point (as a wedge or cone).
(noun.) a convex shape that narrows toward a point.
(verb.) diminish gradually; 'Interested tapered off'.
Inputed by Angie--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A small wax candle; a small lighted wax candle; hence, a small light.
(n.) A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness in an elongated object; as, the taper of a spire.
(a.) Regularly narrowed toward the point; becoming small toward one end; conical; pyramidical; as, taper fingers.
(v. i.) To become gradually smaller toward one end; as, a sugar loaf tapers toward one end.
(v. t.) To make or cause to taper.
Typed by Alice
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Light, small candle.
a. Conical, pyramidal, tapering.
v. a. Make taper, make conical.
v. n. Take a conical form, have a conical shape.
Editor: Milton
Definition
n. a small wax-candle or light: tapering form.—adj. narrowed towards the point like a taper: long and slender.—v.i. to become gradually smaller towards one end.—v.t. to make to taper.—adj. Tā′pering growing gradually thinner.—adv. Tā′peringly in a tapering manner.—n. Tā′perness state of being taper.
Edited by Allison
Examples
- Her round taper fingers flew in and out of her sewing, as steadily and swiftly as if that were the business of her life. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- Shirley leaned forwards on the table, her nostrils dilating a little, her taper fingers interlaced and compressing each other hard. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- She lay between us, and the red light; and every taper line and spar was visible against the glow. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- To ignite them, a small bottle containing sulphuric acid and asbestos was provided, and they were arranged together in an ornamental taper-stand for the chimney-piece. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- This means the manufacture of cues according to weight, as well as taper, material, finish and quality of the tip. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- She had a bracelet on one taper arm, which would fall down over her round wrist. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- The taper was still on the table, and by its light I glanced to see what the paper was which Brunton had taken from the bureau. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- The tube is 52 feet long, 4 feet diameter in the middle, tapering to a little over 3 feet at the ends. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- Before this latter operation, the finished tapering, smoothing, varnishing and polishing is done by hand. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- At the narrow end of the cue, the tapering ceases about three-quarters of an inch from the end and flanges out according to the kind of tip the player prefers. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- The body of the one-man air craft is about sixteen feet long, two feet wide and three inches thick, tapering to a point at each end. Edgar Rice Burroughs. A Princess of Mars.
- This, too, receives a rough rotundity and tapering on a lathe. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
- It is a long, light canoe (caique,) large at one end and tapering to a knife blade at the other. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- You will be found out by your tapering waist and large bosom. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- The transverse channel through the breech is tapered, and the sliding breech block X is slightly wedge-shaped to fit tightly therein. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- It is bright, keen-edged, finely tapered; it is dangerous-looking. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- The latest improvement in chemical matches is the Vesta, which consists of small wax, or stearine tapers, with an igniting composition at the end, consisting of chlorate of potass and phosphorus. Frederick C. Bakewell. Great Facts.
- One of these is then roughly turned down on a lathe until it is round and slightly tapers all the way from one end to the other. Various. The Wonder Book of Knowledge.
Checker: Lola