Meaning & use
slightly tapered
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivenot comparabletechnicalspecialist
Becoming gradually narrower toward one end, but only to a small degree.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: 'slightly tapered legs' or 'the legs are slightly tapered'.
Patterns
- slightly tapered something
- something is slightly tapered
The table has slightly tapered legs that give it a modern look.
The trousers are slightly tapered below the knee.
Choose a brush with a slightly tapered tip for detailed work.
Common combinations
- slightly tapered legs
- The chair has slightly tapered legs and a cushioned seat.
- slightly tapered fit
- These jeans have a slightly tapered fit that looks neat with boots.
- slightly tapered tip
- The pen has a slightly tapered tip for precise writing.
- slightly tapered shape
- The vase has a slightly tapered shape, wider at the top.
- slightly tapered at the bottom
- The sleeves are slightly tapered at the bottom.
Synonyms and how they differ
- narrow
- Narrow simply means not wide; it does not suggest a gradual change in width.
- tapered
- Tapered means becoming narrower, but without saying how much; 'slightly tapered' means only a little.
- conical
- Conical means shaped like a cone, which is a stronger and more specific narrowing than 'slightly tapered'.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: slightly tapered or tapered? slightly tapered or tapered off?
slightly tapered vs tapered
'Tapered' alone does not tell you how much; 'slightly tapered' specifies that the narrowing is small.
slightly tapered vs tapered off
'Tapered off' is a phrasal verb meaning 'gradually decreased', not a shape description.
Practice
The new jeans have a ______ fit that narrows just a little below the knee.
Choose one answer.
'Slightly tapered' is the correct adjective phrase because 'slightly' modifies the adjective 'tapered'. 'Slightly tapering' would suggest an ongoing action; 'slight tapered' is ungrammatical because 'slight' cannot modify an adjective; 'slightly taper' is a verb phrase and does not fit before the noun 'fit'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “slightly tapered”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.