tapered

Tapered describes a shape or profile that gradually narrows or widens along its length. In geometry and design, a tapered form changes cross-section from one end to the other, creating a cone-like or wedge-like silhouette. Tapers can be straight (constant rate of change) or curved, and may extend toward a tip or flare toward a base.

Tapers are used to join components, control fit, or optimize strength. A taper ratio indicates how much the dimension changes over a given length; specifications often provide the starting and ending diameters and the length over which the change occurs.

In engineering and manufacturing, tapered forms appear in architectural elements such as tapered columns; in tooling, conical interfaces such as Morse tapers secure tools in machine spindles, and tapered pins or fasteners rely on changes in diameter for holding power. Tapered reamers shape holes for conical components. In optics, tapered fibers gradually vary core diameter to match light modes between fibers.

In fashion and hairstyling, tapered describes garments or cuts that become narrower toward the end, such as tapered pants and tapered sleeves or a tapered haircut. The term also appears in other contexts, including woodworking, where tapered joints and chamfers alter the edge profile of components.