TA'PER, noun A small wax candle; a small lighted wax candle, or a small light. Get me a taper in my study, Lucius. TA'PER, adjective [supposed to be from the form of a taper ] Regularly narrowed towards the point; becoming small towards one end; conical; pyramidical; as taper fingers. TA'PER, verb intransitive To diminish or become gradually smaller towards one end; as, a sugar loaf tapers towards a point. TA'PER, verb transitive To make gradually smaller in diameter.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI