Dictionary

taper off en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈteɪpɚ ɔf/ (US)
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈteɪpə ɒf/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From taper and off.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To diminish or lessen gradually; to become or make smaller, slower, quieter, etc.
   • The traffic tapers off towards mid-May, but it continues in some measure throughout the off-peak months. 1960 September, G. Freeman Allen, “I.C.I. fertiliser goes by rail from Tees-side”, in Trains Illustrated, page 534:
   • To fill this gap, over the last 25 years, patients have developed a robust Internet-based subculture of volunteer peer support for tapering off psychiatric drugs and recovering from withdrawal syndrome. 2021 March 16, Adele Framer, “What I have learnt from helping thousands of people taper off antidepressants and other psychotropic medications”, in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, volume 11, →DOI:
   • Months after they printed the article, the number of angry letters finally started to taper off.
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see taper, off.
   • The glass tapers off at the top.

Forms

Coordinates

discontinue · cycle off · cruise

Translations (28)

hu ritkul (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · hu fogyatkozik (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · de zurückgehen (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · pl osłabnąć (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · hu mérséklődik (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · pl słabnąć (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · hu elcsendesül (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · de nachlassen (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · fr estomper (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · pl zamierać (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · es aflojar (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · la oblanguescō (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · hu szelídül (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · it calare (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · eo stompi (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · hu gyérül (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · ru сходи́ть на нет (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · hu alábbhagy (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · pl zamrzeć (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · ru угасать (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · cmn 減少 /减少 (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · fi hiipua (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · hu enyhül (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · sv avta (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · ja 細る (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · hu csillapodik (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · hu apad (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.) · hu elül (diminish or lessen gradually; to become smaller, slower, quieter, etc.)