Skip to main content

taperingA gradual reduction in size, amount, or intensity

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: A gradual reduction in size, amount, or intensity

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈteɪpərɪŋ/

Example Sentences

  • My diet plan involves tapering chocolate consumption from 10 bars to zero bars per day.
  • The Federal Reserve announced a tapering of bond purchases.
  • His enthusiasm for morning exercise is tapering faster than a melting ice cream cone.

tapering

NOUN

[/ˈteɪpərɪŋ/]

A gradual reduction in size, amount, or intensity

The sculptor carved the thick wood into a sharp, tapering spear.
💡 Concept

The sculptor carved the thick wood into a sharp, tapering spear.

TAPE(tape) + RING(ring) — pulling the wide TAPE through the small gold RING forces it to stretch into a tapering shape.
🧠 Mnemonic

TAPE(tape) + RING(ring) — pulling the wide TAPE through the small gold RING forces it to stretch into a tapering shape.

"The Fed keeps tapering,
while markets keep wavering,
and your savings need savoring."
🎵 Rhyme

"The Fed keeps tapering, while markets keep wavering, and your savings need savoring."

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈteɪpərɪŋ/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈteɪpərɪŋ/

🌳Etymology

Roottaper
Suffix--ing

Origin

The word 'tapering' derives from Old English 'taper', originally referring to a candle. The gradual narrowing of a candle toward its top metaphorically extended the meaning to describe any gradual reduction or narrowing process.

Breakdown

taper (candle; to narrow gradually) + -ing (present participle and adjective-forming suffix), creating a verb form meaning 'becoming progressively narrower or smaller'.

🎵Rhyme

paperingvaporingcapering
papering
vaporing
capering

🔗Collocations

quantitative tapering
tapering schedule
gradual tapering
tapering off
medication tapering
tapering process

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My diet plan involves tapering chocolate consumption from 10 bars to zero bars per day.

The Federal Reserve announced a tapering of bond purchases.

😄 Fun example

His enthusiasm for morning exercise is tapering faster than a melting ice cream cone.

The doctor recommended a tapering approach to stop the medication.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

diminishingdecreasingreducingnarrowingdwindling

Antonyms

expandingincreasingwidening

Related

tapergradualreductionphase-outscaling down

Want to master 19,000+ words?

Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.