The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Taper \Ta"per\, n. [AS. tapur, tapor, taper; cf. Ir. tapar, W.
   tampr.]
   1. A small wax candle; a small lighted wax candle; hence, a
      small light.
      [1913 Webster]

            Get me a taper in my study, Lucius.   --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness in an
      elongated object; as, the taper of a spire.
      [1913 Webster]
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Taper \Ta"per\, a. [Supposed to be from taper, n., in allusion
   to its form.]
   Regularly narrowed toward the point; becoming small toward
   one end; conical; pyramidical; as, taper fingers.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Taper \Ta"per\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tapered; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Tapering.]
   To become gradually smaller toward one end; as, a sugar loaf
   tapers toward one end.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Taper \Ta"per\, v. t.
   To make or cause to taper.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

taper
    n 1: a convex shape that narrows toward a point
    2: the property possessed by a shape that narrows toward a point
       (as a wedge or cone)
    3: a loosely woven cord (in a candle or oil lamp) that draws
       fuel by capillary action up into the flame [syn: wick,
       taper]
    4: stick of wax with a wick in the middle [syn: candle,
       taper, wax light]
    v 1: diminish gradually; "Interested tapered off"
    2: give a point to; "The candles are tapered" [syn: sharpen,
       taper, point]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

130 Moby Thesaurus words for "taper":
   abate, aculeate, acuminate, approach, barb, bate, bayberry candle,
   bougie, brand, butane lighter, candle, candlewick, center,
   centralize, cigarette lighter, close, close in, close up,
   close with, coarctation, come down, come together, concenter,
   concentralize, concentrate, confine, constrict, constriction,
   contract, contraction, converge, corpse candle, cuspidate, decline,
   decrease, diminish, dip, draw in, drop off, dwindle, ebb, edge,
   electric light bulb, fade, fall in with, fall off, farthing dip,
   file, fire, firebrand, flambeau, flame, flint, flint and steel,
   funnel, glim, go down, go in, grind, hone, igniter, illuminant,
   illuminator, incandescent body, intersect, lamp, lampwick, lantern,
   lessen, let up, light, light bulb, light source, lighter, limit,
   luminant, luminary, match, meet, moon, narrow, narrow the gap,
   narrowing, nip, oilstone, peter out, pinch, plummet, point,
   portfire, reduce, reset, restrict, run together, rush candle,
   rushlight, set, sharpen, slacken, slow down, slow up, slump, snape,
   source of light, sparker, spiculate, spill, spur, stars, straiten,
   strap, stricture, strop, subside, sun, tallow candle, tallow dip,
   taper off, tapering, thin, thin out, torch, unite, votary candle,
   wane, wax candle, weaken, whet, wick, wind down