taper off

diminuer progressivement, réduire progressivement

Diminuer peu à peu en quantité ou en intensité, ou faire diminuer quelque chose ainsi.

En anglais simple : To gradually become less or make something less.

• The rain began to taper off.
• Sales tapered off after the holidays.
• They are tapering off production as demand falls.

Comment l'utiliser : taper off (The rain tapered off by evening.); taper something off (The doctor advised her to taper the medication off slowly.)

Synonymes : decrease, dwindle, reduce

Contraires : increase

Expressions courantes : taper off gradually, taper something off, taper off something

s’amincir, se rétrécir

Devenir progressivement plus mince ou plus étroit vers une extrémité.

En anglais simple : To gradually become thinner or narrower towards an end.

• The glass tapers off at the top.
• Its long stem tapered off to a fine point.
• These wooden legs taper off towards the bottom.

Comment l'utiliser : taper off towards something (The handle tapers off towards its end.)

Synonymes : narrow, taper

Contraires : widen

Expressions courantes : taper off upwards, taper off sharply