Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🔻 Getting narrower 📉 Gradual reduction
tapering

tapering

4.7
Becoming gradually narrower toward one end
  • adjective
  • /ˈteɪpərɪŋ/
translation icon : conicidad
  • The candle burns down, tapering at the end as it gets shorter.

Examples

  • Spire had clear design, Four large flat faces tapering up to a sharp point.

  • The artist painted a landscape with trees tapering off in the distance.

  • That's where her kneecap sits, flaring back out, low curve on the inside, tapering in high ankle bone.

  • The road begins wide but tapers into a narrow path through the forest.

Synonyms

to shrink
vstapering
181 2.8

Become less in amount or value

specifies a gradual narrowing or decrease toward one end over time
to dwindle
vstapering
72 5.1

To become smaller or less in number over time

adds the sense of narrowing toward an end as well as general decrease
to taper
vstapering
12 4.3

To make something narrower toward one end

is the general process of becoming narrower or smaller over time
to taper off
vstapering
9 4.5

To become smaller or weaker over time until it stops

emphasizes narrowing or reducing toward one end as well as time
to dwindle away
vstapering
1 4.6

Slowly get smaller in number or amount until nothing remains

focuses equally on getting narrower or smaller toward one end
to ratchet down
vstapering
1 7.2

To make something less in small steps that are hard to bring back

describes steady narrowing or decrease over time rather than stepped cuts
to dwindle down
vstapering
1 5.1

To become slowly smaller or less until almost nothing remains

is more about narrowing in shape or amount toward a single end
tapering off
vstapering
1 5.5

Becoming smaller or less over time until almost gone

adds the idea of narrowing toward an end as well as fading
dwindling
vstapering
1 4.7

Becoming smaller or fewer over time

also implies physical narrowing toward one end, not only amount
narrowing
vstapering
4.9

Gradually getting narrower toward one end

is about becoming narrower or smaller over time, not just shape
diminishing
vstapering
4.6

Becoming less in size, number, amount or importance

highlights gradual narrowing or reduction toward one end rather than general decrease
decreasing
vstapering
2.3

Becoming less in number, size, or strength

adds the visual idea of getting narrower toward one end

Antonyms

widening
3 2.7

A change that makes something wider, like a road or gap

Idioms

tapering off
1 5.5

Becoming smaller or less over time until almost gone

How Small

tapering
4.7
narrowing
8 4.1

Surface Forms

tapering positive

Morphology

tapering = taper (transparent) = taper + ing

The word 'tapering' is transparently derived from 'taper' with the addition of the suffix '-ing', indicating the ongoing action or state of becoming narrower.

Etymology

Tapering comes from the image of a thin candle called a taper, so it means 'becoming thinner or narrower toward one end'. That's why we call a dress, a mountain, or a pair of trousers tapering when they get smaller at one side.