A taper is a type of haircut that gradually changes the hairs length from longer on top to shorter on the sides and back of the head. The hair is evenly cut as it gets shorter, giving it a clean finish. Tapers are not as dramatic as fades, and they typically leave hair longer on the top and sides compared to a fade. Tapers are great if you want a classic look that doesnt leave your hair too short, and they give you room to try different styles as your hair grows out. Tapers are also used in machining, where they refer to a geometrical shape that describes geometry with a gradual reduction in cross-sectional area. Taper tools are adaptors used to aid the quick changeover of tools for machining applications.