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Having the form of, or resembling, a geometrical cone; round and tapering to a point, or gradually lessening in circumference; as, a conic or conical figure; a conical vessel.

A crown or circlet suspended from the roof or vaulting of churches, to hold tapers lighted on solemn occasions. It is sometimes formed of double or triple circlets, arranged pyramidically. Called also corona lucis. Fairholt.

Either of two varieties of squash, distinguished by their tapering, recurved necks. The summer crookneck is botanically a variety of the pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) and matures early in the season. It is pale yellow in color, with warty excrescences. The winter crookneck belongs to a distinct species (C. moschata) and is…

Having the form of a cucumber; having the form of a cylinder tapered and rounded at the ends, and either straight or curved.

A straight tapering rod used to impel the balls in playing billiards.

A water wheel having a vertical axis, and an inner and outer tapering shell, between which are vanes or floats attached usually to both shells, but sometimes only to one.

A slightly tapered tool of steel for enlarging or shaping a hole in metal, by being forced or driven into or through it; a broach.

of dipterous insects whose young (called rat-tailed larvæ) are remarkable for their long tapering tail, which spiracles at the tip, and for their ability to live in very impure and salt waters; -- also called drone fly.

A pin of hard wood, tapering to a point, used to open the strands of a rope in splicing.

Shaped like a whiplash; long, slender, round, flexible, and (comming) tapering.

ial; solemn. Hence: Dark; dismal; mournful. Jer. Taylor. What seem to us but sad funereal tapers May be heaven's distant lamps. Longfellow. -- Fu*ne"re*al*ly, adv.

Shaped like a spindle; tapering at each end; as, a fusiform root; a fusiform cell.

To taper, as the tail of certain birds.

Tapered; -- said of a bird's tail when the outer feathers are shortest, and the others successively longer. Graduated tube, bottle, cap, or glass, a vessel, usually of glass, having horizontal marks upon its sides, with figures, to indicate the amount of the contents at the several levels. -- Graduated spring (Railroa…

Any marine fish of the genus Macrurus, in which the body and tail taper to a point; they mostly inhabit the deep sea; -- called also onion fish, and rat-tail fish.

of cloth inserted in a garment, for the purpose of strengthening some part or giving it a tapering enlargement. Seam and gusset and band. Hood.

An incurved, tapering and pointed appendage found in the flowers of the milkweed (Asclepias).

ating kindness and generosity to guests and strangers; as, hospitable rites. To where you taper cheers the vale With hospitable ray. Goldsmith.

In a ill manner; badly; weakly. How ill this taper burns! Shak. Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay. Goldsmith.

Persons in the early church who had received baptism; in which ceremony a lighted taper was given them, as a symbol of the spiritual illumination they has received by that sacrament.