taper

i. & t. [TAPER, 8.] A. Intransitive : 1. To become gradually slenderer; to diminish in one direction; to become gradually le in diameter. "Around the tapering top a dove they tye." Pitt: Virgil's Æneid, v. *2. To diminish; to grow gradually le . B. Trans.: To cause to taper; to make gradually smaller, especially in diameter. "I never saw any single tree-masts so big in the body, and so long, and yet so well tapered ." -Dampier : Voy ages (an. 1687). *tā-pered, a . [Eng. taper; -ed .] Provided with tapers; lighted with a taper or tapers. tā-për-ing, pr . par . or a. [TAPER, v.] Becoming gradually smaller in diameter toward one end; gradually diminishing toward a point. tā-per-Ing-ly, adv. [Eng. tapering; -ly.] In a tapering manner.