taper
noun/ˈteɪpə(r)/
/ˈteɪpər/
- a long, thin piece of wood, paper, etc. that is used for lighting fires or lamps
- She lit the gas with a taper.
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- a long, thin candle
- [usually singular] the way that something gradually decreases in size, becoming thinner
Word OriginOld English (denoting any wax candle), dissimilated form (by alteration of p- to t-) of Latin papyrus (from Greek papuros), the pith of which was used for candle wicks.
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