noun / verb

taper

TAY-per/ˈteɪpər/

A gradual narrowing toward a tip.

The carrot's taper narrows smoothly from its broad shoulder to a fine tip.

A single carrot lying sideways, its broad shoulder narrowing smoothly along its length to a fine root tip, making gradual narrowing immediately visible.

Etymology

The candle word led to the verb through the narrowing shape of its flame, or less likely the candle itself. Physical narrowing then extended to gradual decreases in amount or intensity.

In context

TEDx Talks13:06

they teach physicians how to taper opioids in the easier cases and one of their recommendations is that you never start at more than a 10% dose reduction per week

I was in opioid withdrawal for a month — here's what I learned | Travis Rieder | TEDxMidAtlantic

More examples

The leaves taper to sharp points.
She tapered one end of the wooden peg with a knife.
These paintbrushes have different tapers for making fine lines.

Forms

taper · tapers · tapered · tapering

Similar words

narrowing: Describes decreasing width without necessarily suggesting a tip.
thin: Means make or become thinner, without necessarily narrowing toward one end.