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Slope vs Taper - What's the difference?

slope | taper |

In intransitive terms the difference between slope and taper

is that slope is to tend steadily upward or downward while taper is to diminish gradually.

In transitive terms the difference between slope and taper

is that slope is to form with a slope; to give an oblique or slanting direction to; to incline or slant while taper is to make thinner or narrower at one end.

As an adjective slope

is sloping.

As an adverb slope

is slopingly.

slope

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An area of ground that tends evenly upward or downward.
    • I had to climb a small slope to get to the site.
  • The degree to which a surface tends upward or downward.
    • The road has a very sharp downward slope at that point.
  • (mathematics) The ratio of the vertical and horizontal distances between two points on a line; zero if the line is horizontal, undefined if it is vertical.
    • The slope of this line is 0.5
  • (mathematics) The slope of the line tangent to a curve at a given point.
    • The slope of a parabola increases linearly with ''x''.
  • The angle a roof surface makes with the horizontal, expressed as a ratio of the units of vertical rise to the units of horizontal length (sometimes referred to as run).
    • The slope of an asphalt shingle roof system should be 4:12 or greater.
  • (vulgar, highly offensive, ethnic slur) A person of Chinese or other East Asian descent.

    • Synonyms

    * (area of ground that tends evenly upward or downward) bank, embankment, gradient, hill, incline * (degree to which a surface tends upward or downward) gradient * (mathematics) first derivative, gradient * Chinaman, Chink

    Verb

    (slop)
  • (label) To tend steadily upward or downward.
  • * , chapter=23
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=If the afternoon was fine they strolled together in the park, very slowly, and with pauses to draw breath wherever the ground sloped upward. The slightest effort made the patient cough.}}
  • (label) To form with a slope; to give an oblique or slanting direction to; to incline or slant.
  • To try to move surreptitiously.
  • (label) To hold a rifle at a slope with forearm perpendicular to the body in front holding the butt, the rifle resting on the shoulder.

    • Derived terms

    * ski slope * slippery slope * sloping

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Sloping.
  • * (Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)
    • A bank not steep, but gently slope .
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
    • Down the slope hills.

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete) slopingly
    • (Milton)

    Anagrams

    *

    References

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    taper

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) taper, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A slender wax candle; a small lighted wax candle; hence, a small light.
  • * ~1603 , William Shakespeare, ''Othello, Act I, scene I, line 157:
    • strike on the tinder, ho!/ Give me a taper .
  • * 1913 ,
    • Love used to carry a bow, you know,
    But now he carries a taper ;
    It is either a length of wax aglow,
    Or a twist of lighted paper.
  • A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness and/or cross section in an elongated object
    • the taper of a spire.
    The legs of the table had a slight taper to them.
  • A thin stick used for lighting candles, either a wax-coated wick or a slow-burning wooden rod.
    • Derived terms
    * taperwise

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make thinner or narrower at one end.
  • * 1851 ,
    • Though true cylinders without — within, the villanous green goggling glasses deceitfully tapered downwards to a cheating bottom.
  • To diminish gradually.
    • Derived terms
    * taper off
    Synonyms
    * narrow

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (weaving) One who operates a tape machine.
  • Someone who works with tape or tapes.

    • Anagrams

    * ----